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Daily Devotion — John 1 — No Sweeter Name
Whenever I read this first part of the gospel of John, I reel — partly from the beauty of John’s writing and partly from the density of this passage. There is just so much info about our beloved Jesus in such a short amount of space. These opening verses in the gospel of John are rich. In the span of 18 verses four major names are attributed to Jesus: Word. Light. Son. Jesus Christ.
The Name of Jesus
This Jesus who was both fully God and fully man came down from heaven and walked the earth in flesh. Though nowadays the name of Jesus is special and sacred, His name back then was actually quite ordinary. In Hebrew, His name was Yeshua, or Joshua. It was a pretty popular name that meant “savior” or “deliverer.” It was the same name as the man who led Israel into the Promised Land after Moses died. You know, the guy named Joshua who was commanded to march around Jericho. And here in the New Testament, that same name is given to God’s Son. Before He was even born, God was clear about what His Son’s name would be. From the moment the angel declares to Mary that she will give birth to a son, we know exactly who Jesus will be. He will be the savior of the world, the one who would save His people from their sins (Luke 1:26–33 ).
