The Names of Jesus

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:30-33 NIV)

I love Christmas. I love the lights, the decorations, the baking, the parties, and the cheesy Hallmark movies. This time of year, I love anything red, green, and sparkly.

All these things are good and fun, but it is important not to get swept away in the whirlwind that can be the Christmas season. We need to make sure to take some moments away from the holiday bustle and busyness and spend time quietly reflecting on Jesus.

One way I like to do this during the holidays is to study the names of Jesus. Studying the many different ways in which the Bible refers to Jesus just really hammers home for me the absolute greatness of Jesus.

The Bible refers to Jesus in many ways—all of them are important, and all have special significance. Here are several names and verses to study to help us reflect on the goodness and majesty of Jesus during the holiday season and every day.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

“For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6 CSB)

Alpha and Omega

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Rev. 22:13 CSB)

Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 CSB)

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

“And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” (Rev. 19:16 CSB)

Lamb of God

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29 CSB)

Light of the World

“Jesus spoke to them again: ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 CSB)

Messiah

“Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 CSB)

The Way2

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 CSB)

Son of God

“The angel replied to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” (Luke 1:35 CSB)

There is so much importance in a name. Our names were chosen for us for specific reasons. Names are special. Think about how many ways people refer to you and what it means when they use a certain name? Apply that same thought process to Jesus’ names.

Study these verses, and search for others that show exactly who Jesus is. Quite simply, Jesus is everything. Without him, we are nothing. The good news is, he has offered us salvation and has already saved us. Let’s make it a priority to study and celebrate the names of Jesus this Christmas and all throughout the year.

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross and save us from our sins. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and do good in your name. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17 NIV)

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 CSB)

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5 CSB)

“And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:8-11 CSB)

Reach for More

Set aside a special time each day during this Christmas season to just sit in the quiet and read and pray and worship. It is so special to sit in the glow of the Christmas lights and study about Jesus.

Dana Herndon is a writer, blogger, and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.

Photograph © Sixteen Miles Out, used with permission