Recently, our small group has been reading through and discussing Revelation. As we’re nearing the end of the book, we see Jesus returning to earth leading the armies of heaven against the antichrist and the armies he has mustered to challenge the Lord. What caught our attention in this riveting scene are the names by which Jesus is called:
- He is called Faithful and True (19:11)
- He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself (19:12)
- His name is the Word of God (19:13)
- On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (19:16)
- The Lamb (21:22)
- The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (22:13)
- “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.” (22:16)
And there are other names ascribed to Jesus throughout Revelation. This reminded me of a similar observation I made some years ago in John 1. Here are the names of Jesus we find there:
- The Word (1:1)
- God (1:1 & 18)
- The Light (1:5), the True Light (1:9)
- The one and only Son (1:14)
- The Messiah (1:20, 27)
- “The one who comes after me [John the Baptist], the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (1:27)
- Jesus (1:29)
- The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (1:29)
- The one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (1:33)
- God’s chosen one (1:34)
- Rabbi (1:38)
- The Christ (1:41)
- The one Moses wrote about in the Law (1:45)
- The one about whom the prophets also wrote (1:45)
- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph (1:45)
- The Son of God (1:49)
- The King of Israel (1:49)
- The Son of Man (1:51)
And there are many other names of Jesus in the Bible. Here are a few more:
- Immanuel, meaning God with us (Matthew 1:23)
- Savior (Luke 2:11)
- The Lord (Luke 2:11)
- The Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14)
- The Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
- The Living One (Revelation 1:18)
- The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation (Revelation 3:14)
- The Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
- The Root of David (Revelation 5:5)
Why are there so many names for Jesus?
In Philippians 2:9-11 we read, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
God the Father has given Jesus the name that is above every name. Jesus is so majestic, so awesome, so holy and worthy of all praise that it’s impossible for just one name to capture His essence. He even has a name that only He can understand. Just rehearsing these names of Jesus moves me to worship Him!
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonian church, he wrote, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:12)
Lord Jesus, may Your great name be glorified through our lives and our words to those around us! Amen.