Category: verse blog

Yet To Be # 104

Day 15 What’s in a name Part 6

Another name for the Son mentioned in the gospel of Matthew is Emmanuel. The meaning of this name in Hebrew is God with us. Giving him this name goes back to the book of Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14.


“A virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son and call his name Immanuel or Emmanuel.” Matthew 1 verse 23 is a direct quotation from the book of Isaiah. The name Emmanuel conjoins two Hebrew words “El” meaning God and “Immanu” meaning with us.


One more thing to note is this name does not appear anywhere else in the New Testament.
At that time before Christ, the Jewish nation was under the heavy hand of the Rome empire and the people were looking for a savior. After the death of King Solomon, the dividing of the kingdom, then the ten tribes carried away into Assyria, the Maccabean Revolt even by the birth of Jesus which was under the Roman empire, the people of God were referred to more and more as Jews.
No longer called or revered by the surrounding nations as God’s chosen people.


As said before, they endured hardship and sorrow under the yoke of Rome but remembered the promise by the prophets of old of a Messiah who will save them. In the fullness of time, God sent forth his only Son to fulfill his promise to his people, Israel.
“He will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1 verse 21

Yet To Be #103

Day 14 What is in a name Part 5

His name shall be called Jesus or Yeshua in Hebrew. (Matthew 1 verse 21) The gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed one. At the beginning of the book, his earthly lineage is discussed making it evident that he is the offspring of King David. (Matthew 1 verse 1 then verse 16)


His Davidic lineage is very important for establishing him as the long-awaited Messiah who is to save his people. God made a covenant with David that his kingdom will have no end (2 Samuel 7 verse 13 and 14)
I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father and he shall be my son.”


Though God is speaking to David about his son Solomon who will build God’s house, this promise also eludes to the future King, God’s only begotten son, Jesus. Another passage where it is written that of his kingdom there will be no end is in the book of Isaiah chapter 9 verse 7.


The new testament is a fulfillment of the old testament and in the Lord Jesus Christ is the manifestation of all God’s promises.

Yet To Be #102

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain.

Day 13 What’s in a name part 4

God is holy in character, in being and his name is holy. We are to come into his presence knowing who he is. The Psalmist states, “the Lord our God is holy.”


The word holy means, “exalted or worthy to complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.” (Merriam-Webster)


We are to give to God praise and reverence (deep respect) for He is worthy of all adoration for our eyes should be fixed on him knowing he is near when we utter his name. (“but our eyes are upon thee.” 2 Chronicles 20 verse 12)


There was a practice in the ancient world used when making copies of the Torah. The Torah is a part of the Hebrew bible the first five books of the old testament. The scribes or the transcribers used a procedure in today’s society that would seem peculiar, showed how important the name of God was. There is one process out of the whole that speaks volumes. The copyists or scribes would wipe the pen and wash their entire bodies and change their clothes before writing the name, Jehovah.


Then, no document containing God’s Word could be destroyed, it would be stored or buried in a hiding place (a genizah) which was a burial ground or temple.


Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain ( in emptiness) is the second commandment. His name has meaning. There is not only reverential fear connected with his name but there is great beauty. Beauty can only be seen through the eyes of a true child of God walking in the ways of God with respect.

Yet To Be #101

Draw me, we will run after thee.

Day 12 What’s in a name Part 3

In biblical times, anointing someone sets that person apart. Aromatic oil was poured on the person’s head. Some oils used in those days were frankincense, the king of oils best for healing. Myrrh is used in burials as a perfume mixed with aloe to help cover the stench of death. Cassia as in Exodus 30 is good for maintaining physical health and when used with aloes and myrrh as in Psalm 45 verse 8, helps to fragrant garments. These oils are sweet-smelling to the olfactory system, smooth and pleasant.


King Solomon wrote in his song chapter 1 verse 3, his name is as ointment poured forth using the name of the Lord as a simile, a comparison to the sweet smell of oils in those days. It is not enough to know the Lord’s name or to merely speak his name but it goes beyond these points into a profound understanding of the soul drenching beauty of his person, in his name.


God knows his son’s name. The intimacy between the Father and the Son is so strong, so secret to them alone that when a child of God utters his Son’s name in worship, the essence of his Son in that name ascends to God by the Holy Spirit as a divine scent forever peculiar, attractive and pleasant in the nasals of the Father.


Therefore do we love thee. Lord, draw us, we will run after thee. Song of Solomon chapter 1 verse 3 and 4.

Yet To Be #100

What’s in a name.

Day 11 What’s In A Name Part 2

What’s in a name?  

There is much in his name. In his name there is power, there is life, there is love, there is fullness of joy. As the Proverbs of King David wrote so long ago, “the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and is safe.” 

His name shows the richness of his character, the manifestation of his person, and the greatness of his divine being.  

In the New Testament of the Bible, there are two names given to the son of God aside from his numerous titles. It is these names that announce his salvific properties. The purpose of him coming into the world is to seek and to save those who are lost. These names are Jesus and Emmanuel.

Today, glimpse the beauty of that name Jesus. 

In Matthew 1 verse 2, the angel of the Lord came to Joseph, the earthly father saying, “thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. (Salvific attributes) Then to Mary, the earthly mother, the angel said to her, “ thou shall conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. The angel goes on to say, Jesus shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest…and of his kingdom there shall be no end, echoing the book of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 9 verse 7. Here we are reminded of the fact that the old testament writings are mere shadows of the new testament and the life of the coming King.

The new testament though written in Greek, the name Jesus is the transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua into Greek then changed into English. He is the savior so there is a fullness in his name.  

(A transliteration is a conversion of a text from one script to another by swapping of letters of the first text into another similar-sounding text of another alphabet.)

Yet To Be #99

For God so loved the world

Day 10 The Word was God

The fourth book of the new testament called the Gospel According to John was written from AD 85 to AD 90.


The disciple and Apostle John looks at the “humanity of Christ while never losing sight of Christ’s divine nature.” It opens with the same words of the first book in the Bible, Genesis, in the beginning before time was the Word was, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
The relationship between the Father and the Son is initialized in this verse and sets up the main purpose of the entire book which is to explore this unique union.


John’s presentation of Jesus as the Son of God is evident in the famous and keynote verse 16 of chapter 3.


For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe on his name shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Yet To Be #97 & 98

All scripture is given by inspiration of God

Day 8 & 9 The Weekend

Jesus For Everyone, the Son of Man

The book of Luke in the new testament is the third gospel and also begins differently. Written by Luke who was a physician and possibly a Gentile, around AD 60 to 61 and some say possibly as far as AD70. Luke was not one of the original twelve disciples but was a follower of Jesus Christ.


This book as well as the book of Acts both begin with a preface addressed to Theophilus ( in Greek means friend of God). It is a record of the life and ministry of Jesus. Luke gives a detailed account of the genealogy of Jesus, unlike Matthew who gave a lineage through Joseph his earthly father, but through the virgin Mary the mother of Jesus emphasizing the important fact that he was born of a woman and was made flesh. A human body was prepared for him (Hebrews 10 verse 5), he was man, sin apart.


It was in that same body wherein he died, was in the tomb, and God well pleased with him raised him in that same body from the grave and seated him at His right hand in heaven. We can therefore say he has taken manhood into the Glory.


Luke being a gentile presents the gospel for everyone. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah for the Jewish race and Mark presents him as a servant, Jesus came to seek and save anyone regardless of occupation or social status. He is the savior for everyone.


(reference: 2 Timothy 3 verse 16, 2 Peter 1 verse 21, and Luke 19 verse 10)

Yet To Be #96

He is touched by the feelings of our infirmitie

Day 7 Who Can Declare God but God…

There are the other two gospels, Mark and Luke not mentioned in the last post but still hold great importance declaring his character in a name.


The gospel of Mark was written between the mid-50s to 60s AD by John Mark. The same John Mark in the book of Acts deserted Paul and Barnabas but came back to work with Barnabas on mission work. Peter later called him his “son”.


Mark presents Jesus as the Servant, a person who performs duties for others. In this book, the Son of God is a lowly man walking this pathway on earth in perfect obedience to the Father. Verse one introduces the entire book by stating this is the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel, the Son of God. Here too the author calls him Jesus, his earthly name in conjunction with the title Christ, the Messiah, the promised King, the anointed one, and then solidifies the truth that by calling Jesus as the Son of God, his divine person.


The book jumps right into his acts by omitting his birth and leaping straight to his baptism and ministry. He is the Servant of God, doing the work the Father sent him here to do meanwhile, he is also the lowly man performing deeds for his people. He brought himself down, making “himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man” to understand us, to feel and be a part of us.


He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities (our weakness)but in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, meaning he is God and therefore holy. And though, he is the Son of God, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.
(reference: Mark 1 verse 1, Hebrews 4 verse 15, Philippians 2 verse 7, and Hebrews 5 verse 8)

Yet To Be #95

Jesus said he that hath seen me hath seen the Father

Day 6 of May

“Who Can Declare God but God.”

Darlington Feddoes

The I AM is introduced in the old testament of the Bible in the book of Genesis and He is worshiped as the true and living God.


In His great love, God sent His only son to die for the world. In the new testament of the Bible, Jesus is the son of God. He is the son of His love, who is in the bosom of the Father. In the four Gospels of the new testament, Jesus is presented differently in each book.
The word gospel comes from the Anglo-Saxon term god-spell meaning good story or good news. There are four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Each of these books gives an account of the life of Jesus from different viewpoints, not opposing but different.


Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah.
Mark presents Jesus as the Servant.
Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man.
John presents Jesus as the Son of God.


Each representation of Jesus is not an opposing view but shows the characteristics of the Lord.
Matthew and John both start with some form of genealogy, Matthew shows his earthly Jewish lineage establishing him as the Messiah or the anointed one. The first verse immediately establishes him as the son of David (the King) and the son of Abraham (the father of nations), Jesus Christ. Earthly name Jesus and his title as the Christ or the anointed one. Christ comes from the Greek word Christos used in the Greek Septuagint to translate the Hebrew Masiah or Messiah, meaning the anointed one.
The book of John declares his deity as the Word is in the beginning, before time began the Word was with God and the Word was God. He is coexistent and coeternal, coequal with God and He is God. He declared God while here on earth.

John 14 verse 9 and 10
“Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”

Yet To Be #94

Day 5 of May

Who is He?

And they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3 verse 13 and 14


There are about 300 times in the Bible mentioned “I am” beginning with Genesis 15 verse 1 and ending with Revelation 22 verse 16. Most times it gives us a small picture of God’s character. For example when God says to Abram, “I am thy shield and exceeding great reward.” In other words, God is saying he will protect you and keep you safe. He is saying he is a God of love and care. His lovingkindness is incomparable; there is no one like Him.

Is He not beautiful?


In Exodus, God introduces himself as the IAM. He announces His divine person. IAM is present continuous. He is now and forever, the first and the last, the alpha and the omega.


I continue to be what I continue to be and will be. The ever-existing One or He that is to come. From eternity past and will be in eternity.

Newberry Bible