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MARK - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Mark
PART 1 - The Preparations of Christ's Appearance (Mark 1:1-13)
1. The Title and the Emblem of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 1:1)

b) The Personal Name of Christ, and its Significance


The Lord’s personal name was “Jesus” (Iesous), the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Joshua” (yehoshua). This name is differently pronounced in different languages. Germans pronounce it as “Yesus”, whereas Arabs are nearer to the Semite pronunciation. They pronounce it as “Yasou’”. His name appears in the Qur’an as “Isa”.

The name “Jesus” is the same as Savior. It is derived from the verb signifying to save. In Hebrew, it is the same as Joshua, which signifies “God helps, intervenes, and saves”. The Almighty is merciful to men. He works, blesses, and saves through him who bears this name. The name Jesus is the summary of God’s work for us, for the Most High did not come to judge, but he opened a new age of love and redemption through the coming of Jesus. Jesus was so named by Gabriel the angel to Joseph, his father by adoption, for he would save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Matthew the evangelist immediately acknowledged joyfully: “God is with us in Jesus”. He is no more against us because of our sins. He will not destroy us according to the judgment of the law, which is against us, but he will save us for the sake of him who was born of Mary. Thus, the name Jesus signifies the end of the age of law, and the beginning of the age of grace.

It is necessary to recognize that “Christ” is not a name of Jesus. “Jesus” is his personal name. “Christ” is his title and official appellative, or personal designation, which indicates his divine office.

Have you recognized the nature of Jesus: that he was a true man from a true man, and at the same time true God from the true God?

In addition to the prophecies, the good news of heaven indicated both his divine and human person, for he was born of the Holy Spirit and also of Virgin Mary, having a human body like all men, but also having the nature of God, which was hidden in him, since he was the spirit of the Most High. In the power of this Spirit, Jesus healed the crowds of sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons. The unclean spirits had already known his name and his true nature, and they cried in fear when he came near them saying: “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are - the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24) The spirits of Hell know clearly who Jesus is, whereas men are blind. They rarely recognize him or know that he is the Lord himself.

This is the greatness and the mystery in the name of Jesus. He is a perfect man and a true Lord. The church confesses this mystery with joy and certainty: the Lord is Jesus.

This name “Jesus” continued in heaven as on earth. Stephen the martyr saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, and he cried out before his death: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:56-59)

This glorious Nazarene stood in the way of Saul of Tarsus at the gates of Damascus and declared to him rightly: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5), and the strict “lawyer”, i.e. expert in the Mosaic law, was changed from a fanatic self-righteous hypocrite into a believer and servant of Christ. He confessed in his Epistle to the Philippians joyfully: “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

The name of Jesus is not a spell, but a wonderful mystery. Whenever it is pronounced with faith, his name means the presence of the Lord himself, who speaks with the tongues of his servants, and works through their words. Today, we preach the name of Jesus that many may accept him, and that the divine promise may be fulfilled in them: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). In this unique name, Peter the apostle cured a lame man in Jerusalem (Acts 3:1-4:31). With the power of this name, the apostles cast out demons. The church waits for his next coming crying out: “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation).

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, we worship you for you are the incarnate Word of God, and in you dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You are born of the Spirit of God. You have overcome all diseases, death, sins, and Satan. You are the Victor who opened for us the gates of the kingdom of God’s love. We thank you for your coming, and beg you to conform us to your likeness that your strength may be made perfect in our weakness. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. What does the name “Jesus” signify?

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