a. The most appropriate name. We find in verse 20 that an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel had a two-fold command for Joseph. Marry Mary and name the son she has Jesus. The angel brought this name from the throne room of heaven. This was not a name chosen by Joseph or Mary. This was a name that originated in the mind of God. The Lord has many other names or titles but this name would be different. It is a personal name and this name was given by the Father. It is also the best name that he could have been given. It is a glorious name. It is a hero’s name. What better name could you have than to be called the Savior? This was the most appropriate name. It was the Father in heaven who named him. No one knows Jesus better than the Father. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Since this is true, the name Jesus must be true. The Father would not name the Son of God “savior” if it were not true. The infinite and transcendent mind of God can’t be wrong and therefore when we hear the words, “Call His name Jesus,” we know that to be true. b. The reason for the name. Besides the name we are also given the reason for the name in verse 21, “For he will save his people from their sins.” The name Jesus means Savior, but in Hebrew where it is pronounced Yeshua or the English form Joshua, the name contains the divine name of God. We could rightfully say, Jesus, means “Yahweh or Jehovah saves.” This name means that he would not be like the other saviors that the world had known. There were men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Gideon and David that saved their people from oppression or physical harm but Jesus would save his people from their sins. The Jewish people were looking for a Messiah, a savior, from the oppression of the Roman government. But Jesus came to remove the oppression of sin and the power of Satan. Not only that, but he saves in the sense that he provides eternal life. He provides a salvation that is not temporary or able to be lost. Just like Isaiah says, “Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation.” (Isaiah 45:17). c. The meaning of the name. And so, God did not leave us to try and figure out the name of Jesus on our own but clearly told us what this name means. In fact, the text of Matthew gives us a synonym of the name Jesus, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Jesus coming down from heaven as a savior meant that God was with us. The infinite God is human flesh by being a savior bridged the gap that stood between God and man. Our savior is both God and with us. He is the only one that was fit to save people from their sins. Call His Name Jesus: God Given and God Explained Name