What's in a Name?

Today (Jan. 1) is always observed on the church calendar as "The Holy Name." Today is the eighth day following Christmas when Jesus would have officially been given the name, Jesus.

For a 1st century Jew, the name "Jesus" would have been heard as a very common name but in the context of the four gospels, people would be thinking of the Hebrew equivalent name, "Joshua." Remember Joshua from the Old Testament? Joshua was the one who picked up where Moses left off to continue to lead the Israelites into the promised land. The name "Joshua" and later "Jesus" both mean, "God saves."

So it's not surprising that there are frequent echoes of the exodus story throughout the gospel accounts in telling us about the life and ministry of Jesus. Just as Joshua led the Israelites from slavery into freedom in the exodus story, so will Jesus lead us from slavery into freedom through his life, death, and resurrection.

The connection of Jesus' name with the exodus story is another indication among many of how both the Old and New Testaments are intertwined and dependent upon each other in telling the good news of God's desire to rescue the world from sin and death.

Collect of the Day: The Holy Name

Eternal Father, who gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
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