You Shall Call His Name Jesus

Before God sent His Son to the earth, God was asked His name at least three times, during His glorious visitations with man.
All three times, God hid His name.
The three events were:
1. When Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32).
2. When God visited Moses in the burning bush passage (Exodus 3).
3. When the Angel of the Lord visited Manoah and his wife (Judges 13).

Twice, God answered with a question, to Jacob and to Manoah.
God told Moses the name I AM and I AM THAT I AM.
When Manoah asked his visitor his name, the answer was, in various translations (Judges 13:18):
““Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?” (NKJV)
“. . . seeing it is secret? (KJV)
“It is too wonderful for you to understand.” (New Living)
“It is a name of wonder” (Good News).
“. . .because you cannot comprehend it” (NET).
“It is incomprehensible.” (New Heart English)
“. . . seeing it is hidden?’” (JPS Tanakh)
“. . . since it is beyond comprehension?” (Berean)
“You don’t need to know my name. And if you did, you couldn’t understand it” (Contemporary Engish).
“It’s ‘Wonderful’” (International Standard).

God Sends Jesus

When God sent His Son to the earth, He did not hide His Son’s name.
He made His Son’s name very clear, obvious and definite.
God also made His thoughts about His Son very clear, obvious and definite.

God’s Specific Introductions and Announcements of Jesus:

1. The Annunciation: Gabriel visits Mary (Luke 1:31-35)
2. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream; “You shall call His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:18-21).
3. Announcement of the birth of Jesus: An angel visits shepherds; “There is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:8-14).
4. John the Baptist announces that He is the Lamb of God and the Son of God (John 1:29,33).
5. When Jesus was baptized, God spoke audibly: “‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17).
6. During the transfiguration, God spoke audibly: “’This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased! Hear Him!’” (Matthew 17:6).

The name of Jesus is indeed . . . too wonderful for us to comprehend.