The Name of the LORD: Why do Some Christians Have a Problem with the Name Jesus?

 “The Name of the LORD”

Key Texts: Exodus 3:14; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9–11

What’s in a Name?

Names have great significance in Scripture. They carry identity, character, purpose, and often a divine revelation. When we speak of the name of the LORD, we are not just talking about pronunciation or syllables—we’re talking about the nature of God Himself.

Today, we’ll look at:

1. The history of God’s names in the Bible.

2. The debate over using the name “Jesus” vs. “Yeshua.”

3. Why what we mean matters more than the precise sound we say.

God’s Names in the Old Testament

The first time God reveals a personal name to Moses is in Exodus 3:14, when He says:

“I AM WHO I AM… Tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The Hebrew here is Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, and it reflects the eternal, self-existent nature of God. He simply is.

Soon after, in Exodus 6:3, God adds:

“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name YHWH I did not make myself fully known to them.”

This sacred name—YHWH, often rendered Yahweh—was considered so holy by the Jews that they would not speak it aloud. Instead, they substituted “Adonai” (Lord) when reading the Scriptures. That tradition carried over into Greek translations like the Septuagint, which used Kyrios (Lord) instead.

Other names and titles of God in the Old Testament include:

• Elohim – God, mighty creator (Genesis 1:1)

• El Shaddai – God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)

• Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14)

• Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26)

These names point not just to what God is called, but who He is.

Jesus, Yeshua, and the Greek New Testament

Some Christians today argue that we should only use the name Yeshua, the Hebrew name for Jesus. It’s true that when Jesus walked the earth, His Hebrew name would have sounded like Yeshua, a shortened form of Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning "The LORD saves."

But here's the critical point:
The New Testament was written in Greek, and the inspired authors called Him Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς)—the Greek equivalent of Yeshua.

• In Matthew 1:21, the angel says, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

• In Acts 4:12, Peter boldly declares:

  “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

That name was written in Greek. If it were wrong to call Him anything but Yeshua, then the apostles themselves were wrong—and the Holy Spirit, who inspired Scripture, would have corrected them.

Furthermore, the title Christ (Greek: Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah). Again, the apostles had no problem using a Greek title to proclaim a Hebrew truth.

Did Jesus Object to Being Called by Other Names?

There is no biblical evidence that Jesus ever objected to someone calling Him by the translated or contextual version of His name.

In fact:

• He interacted with Greek-speaking Gentiles (John 12:20–21).

• His followers would go on to proclaim His name across cultures and languages—never insisting on a single linguistic form.

The focus was never how to say the name, but who the name refers to, and whether one believes in who He is.

Jesus Himself said in John 17:6:

“I have revealed Your name to those whom You gave Me out of the world.”

That doesn’t mean He merely spoke God’s name aloud. It means He revealed God’s character, His heart, and His will.

The Heart Behind the Name

God is not confined to language. He is not honored by syllables but by faith and obedience.

As Paul says in Philippians 2:9–11:

“God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Whether you say Yeshua, Jesus, Iēsous, or Isa (as in Arabic), what matters most is:

• Are you calling upon the true Savior?

• Are you trusting in His finished work?

• Do you bow your heart before the One who is Lord of all?

Conclusion: Calling on the Name That Saves

Let us never become more concerned with pronunciation than with praise.

Let us remember that “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

And let us proclaim boldly—whether in English, Hebrew, Spanish, or Swahili—that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your names—Elohim, Yahweh, I AM—and ultimately through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us not to get caught up in debates about language, but to worship You in spirit and truth. May we call upon Your name with reverence, faith, and love, knowing that You hear us, no matter the tongue.
In Jesus’ name we pray—Amen.

I AM WHO I AM: The Name That Changes Everything

 

“I AM WHO I AM: The Name That Changes Everything”

Text: Exodus 3:13–22

Have you ever had someone ask, “Who sent you?”

It’s a question about authority, identity, and purpose. In Exodus 3, Moses stands at a turning point. God has just called him to the impossible: confront Pharaoh and deliver a nation of slaves. But Moses, uncertain and afraid, asks something incredibly profound:

“If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:13)

This isn’t just a request for information. It’s a desperate need for assurance. Who are You, God?
And what God gives in response is nothing short of life-changing.

Moses Asks: Who Are You?

Moses wasn’t doubting that a god had spoken to him. He wanted to know which God—and what kind of God—was sending him into danger.

Names in the ancient world weren’t just labels. They revealed something about the person’s character, authority, and power. For Moses to stand before Israel and Pharaoh with confidence, he needed more than a vague title—he needed the Name.

Moses is asking:
“Can I trust You? Will You keep Your promises? Are You real, present, and powerful?”

God Answers: “I AM WHO I AM”

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ … Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex. 3:14)

This name is rich and mysterious. It comes from the Hebrew root “hayah”, meaning “to be.” From this root comes Yahweh, the personal covenant name of God.

By calling Himself “I AM,” God is saying:

• I exist—not because anyone made Me or sustains Me, but because I am.

• I am unchanging—always present, always faithful.

• I am personal—not a distant force, but the living God who sees, hears, and acts.

• I am self-sufficient—not dependent on time, space, or human effort.

This name reveals God’s eternal nature. He isn’t just the God of the past—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—but the living God of today, fully present in Moses’ crisis and Israel’s suffering.

Yahweh: God of the Covenant

“Say to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord [Yahweh], the God of your fathers… has sent me to you.’” (Ex. 3:15)

“Yahweh” is more than a title—it’s a covenant name. It reminds Israel that this is their God—the One who made promises to Abraham and intends to keep them.

God is not a vague spiritual power. He is a relational God, bound to His people by sacred promise.

When God says “I AM,” He means:

• I am the same God who promised to make you a great nation.

• I am the One who will be with you in Egypt, in the wilderness, and beyond.

• I am not just “out there.” I am here. I am with you.

This covenant relationship is not based on Israel’s merit but on God’s unchanging character.

The Name Means God Is Present

Notice God doesn’t say, “I was” or “I will be.” He says, “I AM.”
Whatever season you’re in—fear, failure, waiting—God’s name reminds us: He is present.

“I will be with you.” (Ex. 3:12)

That’s the real power behind the mission—not Moses’ words or staff—but the presence of Yahweh.

God’s Name, Our Confidence

God’s name isn’t just theology—it’s practical truth for the journey.

• When you feel weak, remember: “I AM” is your strength.

• When you are afraid, “I AM” is your shield.

• When you doubt, “I AM” is your assurance.

• When others question your calling, “I AM” is your authority.

God didn’t send Moses alone. He sent Moses with His name, which meant He sent Moses with Himself.

The Name Fulfilled in Jesus

Centuries later, Jesus echoed these words:

“Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)

Jesus wasn’t just quoting the Old Testament—He was identifying Himself as Yahweh in the flesh.
Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant, the final assurance that God is with us—Emmanuel.

In Christ, we see the “I AM” walking among us, healing, forgiving, dying, and rising again.

When Moses asked, “What is Your name?”

God gave an answer that still echoes today: “I AM WHO I AM.”

It’s not just a name—it’s a promise:

• I am present.

• I am faithful.

• I am with you.

So when God calls you—when life overwhelms you, when others ask who you think you are—remember, it’s not about who you are.
It’s about who He is.

And He is I AM.

Short prayer: Lord, You are the great I AM—unchanging, eternal, and faithful. Help us to trust in Your name, to walk in Your promises, and to remember that You are always present. May we, like Moses, go forward not in our own strength, but in the power of the One who says, “I AM with you.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More: EXODUS - Sabbath School Lesson 2 - The Burning Bush