What do you know about Jesus? Would it surprise you to read, that he is the most famous person to have ever lived? Then, how about these thoughts: that more songs have been written about him than any other; that more paintings of him, as mankind portrays him to look, have been made of him than any other historical figure; and that more books have been written about him than anyone who ever lived; finally, even our time is based on his birth as “Before Christ” and “in the year of our Lord” (A.D.).
Most of our information, as it relates to Jesus’ personal life, comes from the Gospel Accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The name Jesus appears 983 times in the King James Version of the Bible, as found in “Word Counts;” however, it does not always refer to Jesus of whom we write. The reason for this is simple. The Greek word translated Jesus is “Iésous,” and it is also translated into our English “Joshua” and at other times, it does not refer to Jesus of whom we write. The Greek word means, “Jehovah is salvation.” At least two times it is translated “Jesus” when it should have been translated “Joshua;” who lead Israel across the Jordan River, such as: Acts 7:45 “Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David.” Clearly, Stephen is talking about when “Joshua” brought Israel into land of the Gentiles. Then, second, in Hebrews: “For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day” (Heb. 4:8). Once more, the name “Jesus” should be Joshua, as it was Joshua that had not given Israel “the rest,” as he “spoke of another day” and not Jesus.
Yet, there is more as it relates to the name Jesus and is an interesting part of the study. It is said that Barabbas, the robber whom the Jews desired that Pilate release instead of Jesus was named, “Jesus Barabbas.” This is based on some ancient manuscripts of Matthew 27:16–17 which has the full name of Barabbas as “Jesus Barabbas” and it is said this is the name which was originally written in the text. Early it was said that Origen a “church father,” “was troubled by the fact that his copies of the gospels gave Barabbas’ name as ‘Jesus Barabbas’ and declared that since it was impossible he could have had such a holy name, ‘Jesus’ must have been added to Barabbas’ name by a heretic. It is highly likely that later scribes, copying the passage, removed the name ‘Jesus’ from ‘Jesus Barabbas’ to avoid dishonour to the name of Jesus the Messiah.”
In some translations in the genealogy given by Luke (3:29), where the King James Version has “Jose,” the American Standard Version has Jesus. This is “the son of Eliezer. The New International Version and New American Standard translations have Joshua. The Greek word means: “he will be sustained of Jehovah.” Next, in the New Testament there was one Justus, a Hebrew Christian, an associate of the apostle Paul, who wrote of him: “And Jesus, which is called Justus” (Col. 4:11). Finally, the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus mentions at least twenty different people named Jesus in his works. However, in this series of articles, our subject is “Jesus of Nazareth,” whose mother was Mary.
Matthew wrote: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:18). Joseph being told by the heavenly messenger: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt.1:21). Therefore, the name given to the son of Mary, the divinely ordained name, and through the name itself, announcement was made of his mission on earth. The name Jesus means: “Jehovah is salvation” or as the text says, “he shall save his people form their sins.”
With this in mind, attention is here called to the words of Peter: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is not the name alone, but the person who was so named, as we have seen, there were others names Jesus; but there is but one “Jesus of Nazareth” and in him is salvation!
— Frank R. Williams