In Jesus’ Name

It stands to reason there are too many people in the world for the number of names available. Some people create new names but the total number does not come near the population. To correctly identify a person in conversation a surname is given. A surname is a last name. This becomes understandable when multiple persons have the same first ‘given’ name.

However, oftentimes nicknames are assigned to an individual because of an interest the person has or had; perhaps due to a physical attribute; perhaps because of an occupation or location of their birth. These adjectives describing a person or their occupation in time may have been the origin of their surname.

History has introduced surnames for almost every soul. Examples might be Smith, Carpenter, Cooper, Hill, Washington etc. There are a long list of surnames in the history of mankind. Family identifications are often used such as Canaanite, Midionite, Babylonian–to use a few Biblical examples.

Scripture tells us Peter had a surname, it was Peter. His first name was Simon. However we know him as Peter. In Mark 3:16-19 the names of Jesus’ chosen Apostles are: 16 … Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot. In this passage we have three with surnames or nicknames, one given unto them by Jesus, the others were given by their families or their community. Matthew 10:3 tells us Thaddaeus is known by his surname. Mt. 10:2-4. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. You notice there were a few identifications given to properly know who these men were. Thaddaeus’ first name was Lebbaeus. Other descriptions were necessary for the other Simon–the Canaanite. James and John were the sons of Zebedee, and The sons of thunder. Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother. Matthew was a publican–tax collector. Judas Iscariot was the betrayer. The second James was identified as Alphaeus’ son. With two Simons and two James among the twelve chosen as Jesus’ Apostles, surnames or nicknames were probably necessary.

With names in mind, nicknames or surnames, can you name all the nicknames or surnames given to Jesus? We identify him as Jesus Christ. The name Christ is given because he became the Messiah, the Savior, The Christ. Christ became his surname.

Let us spend a few minutes reading some of the names given unto Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary of Nazareth. We listed a few just now. This only begins the long list of names associated with Jesus.

The Son of God–when Peter walked on water the Apostles said, Mt. 14:33. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

The Light of the World–Jesus tells his disciples he is the light–goodness versus darkness or evil. John 8:12. 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Lamb of God–John 1:29. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Being called The Lamb of God, Jesus was the Passover sacrificial lamb figuratively and physically he was God’s sacrifice for the atonement of sin for mankind.

The Word–John 1:1. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The term Word is a reference to Jesus. Also found in John 1:14. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Also in Rev. 19:13. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The Way, The Truth and The Life–John 14:6. 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Alpha and Omega–the first and the last–Rev. 1:8. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.