The Bible lists dozens of names of Jesus, from "Wonderful Counselor" to "Son of Man." Do all these names mean the same thing?
Throughout the Bible, there are many names of Jesus. Why so many references to names of Jesus, titles of Jesus, and roles of Jesus? Why isn’t knowing His one name, Jesus, enough?
Why Do Names Matter in the Bible?
Names in the Bible carry great significance. Many times a person’s name reveals something about their character.
It’s popular in our times to make sure we know the meaning of a name before we bestow it on our newborn. No one considers naming a child Mahlon, meaning “sickness; or Chilion, meaning “pining or wasting away,” as Naomi and Elimelech named their sons in the book of Ruth (we know how that turned out for the brothers).
Names reveal character or nature, and changing a name signifies a conversion or transformation. God changed names like Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Jacob to Israel. The name changing continued in the New Testament when Jesus told Simon his name would be Peter or Rock. When Saul experienced conversion, his name was changed to Paul.
Sometimes names in our lives denote our roles. My father’s name was Fred, but after serving as town fire chief for over 51 years, most people knew him as “Chiefy.” My husband is happy to be known by our grandsons as “Opa.” And many preachers are known simply for most of their lifetimes as “Pastor.”
We may be known by nicknames, middle names, last names, married names, or pen names. Humans can need several names, so it’s quite understandable that the God of all creation would be known by many. Colossians 1:16-17 says this about Jesus:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (ESV).
For one so powerful and vital to our very existence, many names are required to help us better understand His greatness, His nature, His roles, and His relationship with humanity.
According to many scholars, the Bible lists over 50 names and titles for Jesus. In this article, we’ll look at names of Jesus that reveal the scope of His nature and names that help us understand our daily need for Jesus, providing built-in reminders to think about Him all day.
What Are the Names of Jesus that Reveal the Scope of His Nature?
Some names of Jesus describe the grand scope of his nature and open our eyes to His greatness and authority. These names include:
Almighty One. Revelation 1:8 tells us that Jesus is the one “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (ESV). We understand from this name that Jesus is God, and He was “from the beginning.”
The Alpha and The Omega. Revelation 22:13 says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (ESV). Jesus was at the beginning, and He is waiting for us at the end. The scope of His existence is all inclusive of all of time.
Author and Finisher of Our Faith. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) uses this title for Jesus to help us understand that He writes our faith story from beginning to conclusion.
Resurrection and the Life. Jesus revealed this name to Martha at the death of Lazarus, recorded in John 11:25 (NKJV), “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” He created life, and He IS the life.
The Word. John wrote extensively about the life and light that Jesus is and encapsulated this truth in The Word in John 1:1-4. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (NKJV). Another title of Jesus expressing the scope of who He is and all He does.
Supreme Over All. Not only did Jesus create everything and provide life, but “in Him all things hold together,” according to Paul in Colossians 1:17 (ESV).
Lord of All. And, to leave no doubt about the prominence of Jesus in our lives, Philippians 2:9-11 describes Him as Lord of All:
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (ESV).
What are the Names of Jesus that Reveal We Need Him Every Day?
Other names of Jesus associate Him with everyday objects in our world. These names remind us that He is with us and that we need Him daily. Some of these names are:
Bread of Life. Just as God provided manna or “bread from heaven” for the Israelites in the wilderness, so He sent Jesus from heaven as the “Bread of Life,” as Jesus explained in John 6:35. At the last supper, Jesus told the disciples that the bread of communion symbolized His body that would be given for us. We think of Jesus whenever we hunger and ask God to provide “our daily bread.”
Light of the World. In John 8:12, Jesus told those listening that He is the world’s light. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (ESV). Without a relationship with Jesus, we walk in darkness, but in relationship with Him, we can clearly see how we are to follow.
The Door. Jesus is the entrance we pass through into eternal life. He is the only entrance. All other ways lead to eternal separation from God. John 10:9 records Jesus saying, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (ESV).
Bright Morning Star. Jesus says in Revelation 22:16 that He is the “bright morning star.” Many people who work all night or stay awake in the night watching for morning find their hope in the morning star. Jesus’ coming is our hope for the time when He will come again and set all things right. This name can be confusing as Satan is also referred to in Scripture as the morning star, but Satan is fallen, and his doom is sure. Jesus’ light will shine into eternity.
The Rock. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:4 regarding the Israelites wandering in the wilderness that “they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ” (ESV). This reinforces that Jesus always existed and what Jesus told the woman at the well: whoever drinks the living water He provides will never thirst again (John 4:13).
Man of Sorrow. When we face hardship, loss, or grief, it’s comforting to remember that Jesus was a “man of sorrow.” Isaiah 53:3 tells us this and adds that He was “acquainted with grief.”
Good Shepherd. Most of us no longer encounter shepherds on a daily basis, but we understand the idea of Jesus as our caretaker and overseer. He is the one who provides what we need, seeks us when we’re lost, and protects us from harm. Psalm 23 is known even to many unfamiliar with the rest of Scripture. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 ESV).
What Did Jesus Call Himself?
As noted above, Jesus used many names for Himself, but He frequently referred to Himself as the Son of Man. It was a title of humility, of His humanity, and referenced the Messianic prophecy in Daniel 7:13.
Jesus referred to himself as “I Am” in John 8:58-59. This statement incited the crowd to pick up stones to stone Him. They knew that Jesus was declaring himself to be God with this statement.
Jesus acknowledged He was the Messiah in John 4:25-26, a title which also means “the Anointed One.”
And in John 15:5, Jesus said that He is the Vine. We are the branches.
By What Other Names Do We Know Him?
Finally, at Christmas, we recall the Scripture from Isaiah 9:6 ESV that gives us four powerful and comforting names of Jesus. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
There are many others, and it’s a useful study to keep a list in your Bible or prayer journal of every name or title of Jesus you encounter as you read and study God’s Word. We could spend weeks reading and meditating on the meaning of each name so that we might better know the One who is our Redeemer and Friend.
Further Reading:
10 Questions I Would Ask Jesus Over A Cup of Coffee
The Power of Jesus' Last Words: The Meaning Behind 'It Is Finished'
How to Plead the Blood of Jesus in Prayer and Scripture
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