When my grandfather immigrated to the United States he wanted to adapt to a new culture and language. So when he and my father became citizens, they chose the surname Johnson. Although this fit the Armenian pattern of surname designation, it was not actually accurate since neither my father or grandfather had a father named John. If my grandfather had actually translated his native surname into English, my name would have been Raymond Chandler, “candle makers’s son”. But again that would not have been very accurate since neither he nor my father had been the son of a candle maker. So the name Raymond Johnson does not give any hints as to my occupation, traits, or my parents.
About 740 BC , Isaiah made this prophecy “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel”. Isaiah 7:14
The name Immanuel means “God with us”. So, even seven centuries before Jesus was borne, He had a name that accurately described His real parentage.
Then just before He was borne to Mary, Joseph, her espoused husband, was told this - “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21
So now we see that His name also describes His occupation, because the name Jesus means Savior.
Now to verify that this was the same child with both of these names, verses 22 & 23 go on to say this: “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
We know the rest of the story, Jesus accurately lived out the meaning of His names.
But that does not complete the story, He has more names in the future.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11 – 16
Boy, am I glad He knows my name.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27,28