Names of Jesus

Jesus

100

According to the Gospel of Matthew it was this man who was told in a dream that the baby's name would be Jesus.

Who is Joseph? “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus..." Matthew 1:20-21

200

According to the Gospel of Luke, it was this "being" who told Mary that the baby's name would be Jesus.

Who is Gabriel? "The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.'" Luke 1:30-31

300

This Old Testament character has a name that is related to the name of Jesus.

Who is Joshua?

400

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the baby was to be named Jesus for this reason.

What is because he would save his people from their sins. "She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

500

One suggestion for the meaning of the name Jesus has to do with what activity of God that benefits humans?

What is salvation?

Other Names

100

This Greek title which, like the Hebrew word Messiah means "anointed," has become almost a last name for Jesus.

What is Christ?

200

The writer of the Gospel of Matthew quotes from Isaiah, offering another name for Jesus, which he says means, "God with us."

What is Emmanuel? All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

300

This Greek title became very common in the New Testament and later as a way of referring to Jesus. We use a form of this word as a heading for one element of our worship service each Sunday.

What is Kyrios (Lord)? The Kyrie Eleison in the bulletin after the prayer of confession. It means, "Lord, have mercy."

400

This person is one of only two people in the Gospels to call Jesus Rabbouni, which is an Aramaic word, like the Hebrew word Rabbi, that means, "Teacher."

Who is Mary Magdalene? (At the garden tomb on Easter morning.) The other person was the blind man Bartimaeus in Mark.

500

While it is very common to refer to Jesus as "Savior" in Christian circles, there is only one instance in the New Testament where this title is used of Jesus. It was this group of non-Jews who spoke of Jesus as Savior. Ask for another clue if needed.

Who are the Samaritans? "...they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." John 4:42

It depends upon who you ask

100

In the first verse of the Gospel of John, the writer uses this word or title, representing a concept in Greek philosophy, in reference to Jesus.

What is "the word" or the "logos?" "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

200

This Gospel writer refers to Jesus in the opening verse of the Gospel as "the Son of God," and later in this Gospel, during the crucifixion, a Roman Centurion speaks of Jesus in the same way.

What is the Gospel of Mark? "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Mark 1:1 "Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!" Mark 15:39

300

This Gospel writer, who begins his Gospel with a genealogy that ends with Joseph, uses this title for Jesus in the very first verse of the Gospel. This same title is used a number of times in the Gospels, sometimes by people appealing to Jesus for help.

What is "Son of David?" "An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1 "Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” Mt. 15:22

400

The Apostle Paul, in making a theological point about sin and redemption, speaks of Jesus as the "second" or the "last" of this Old Testament character.

Who is Adam? "Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." 1 Cor. 15:45.

500

This New Testament book speaks of Jesus as a high priest.

What is Hebrews? "...Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf...having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:20

Christograms

100

People who use this, the simplest of Christograms, as a replacement for the word "Christ" are sometimes criticized for being lazy or even blasphemous.

What is X? Our letter X is the same as the Greek letter Chi, the first letter of the name of Christ in Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ or ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ

200

This Christogram and symbol are often found on bumper stickers.

What is IXTHUS and the fish symbol?" IXTHUS means fish in Greek. Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υἱὸς Σωτήρ" Jesus Christ God Son Savior Jesus Christ Son of God Savior

300

This Christogram (see model holding parament) is one of the oldest and can be found in the Westminster sanctuary hanging from the lectern during Lent and possibly at other times.

What is the Chi Rho? These are the first two Greek letters in the name Christ: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ

400

This three letter Christogram comes from as early as the seventh century and is found in many churches, including Westminster. It is sometime erroneously thought to mean "In this sign conquer," with reference to Constantine's vision of the cross.

What is IHS? These are the first three Greek letters of the name Jesus: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ It is also sometimes thought to stand for "Jesus, Savior of Men," but that is a "backronym," a phrase designed to fit an existing monogram.

500

The Orthodox churches use this Christogram, made up of the first and last Greek letters of the names Jesus and Christ.

What is ICXC? ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ The Greek letter "sigma" has two forms: Σ, like our S, and C, like our C

"Of"

100

This common designation of Jesus was used by Satan during the temptations, by demons, and by the disciples after Jesus came to them during the storm, walking on the water.

What is Son of God?

200

This three-word title is the one used most frequently by Jesus in the Gospels when referring to himself.

What is Son of Man?

300

The three occasions when this title is applied to Jesus in the Gospels it is done by Gentiles. (If stuck, ask for a second clue.)

What is King of the Jews? Used by the Wise Men, Pilate, and the soldiers.

400

John the Baptizer is the only person in the New Testament to refer to Jesus with this title.

What is Lamb of God? "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! " John 1:29

500

In the Gospel of Matthew, on Palm Sunday, this is the title of Jesus the crowds are reported to have used as they shouted "Hosanna."

What is the Son of David? "The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:9