The 100 Names Of Jesus And Their Meanings

The Lord Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, is known by many different names and titles that reveal aspects of His nature, mission, and ministry.

If you’re looking for a quick answer, here are the main categories His 100 names fall under Messianic titles like Christ and Messiah that speak of His role as the anointed Savior, names relating to His divinity like Son of God and Lord, descriptions of Him as teacher and healer, Old Testament ties to prophecies about the coming Redeemer, and poetic images like the Good Shepherd and the Word of Life.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the meanings behind 100 names for Jesus found in the Bible and what they teach us about who Christ is and why He came.

Messianic Titles for Jesus

Christ

The title “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “Anointed One”. This refers to Jesus being anointed by God and sent to fulfill His divine mission of salvation (Luke 4:18-19).

Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah that the prophets foretold in the Old Testament (Isaiah 61:1-3). As the Christ, Jesus is the chosen and appointed King sent by God to deliver humanity from the bondage of sin.

Messiah

The title “Messiah” also points to Jesus as the “Anointed One”. The Hebrew word Mashiach has the same meaning as the Greek word Christos.

Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah King that God promised to send for the redemption of Israel and the world (Isaiah 9:6-7).

This title affirms Jesus’ identity and mission as the Savior sent by God to bring salvation to all who believe in Him (Acts 4:12).

Emmanuel

Jesus is also called “Emmanuel”, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). This title signifies Jesus’ identity as the incarnation of God – God taking on human form. In Christ, God dwelled among humanity in a powerful and personal way (John 1:14).

Jesus as Emmanuel speaks of God’s desire to draw near to humanity and identify with us in our suffering and struggles.

This name reminds believers that we are never alone because God is always with us through the Spirit of Jesus who dwells in our hearts.

Other messianic titles for Jesus include Son of David, Son of Man, Savior of the World, Bread of Life, Great High Priest and more.

Each one highlights an important aspect of Jesus’ identity and mission as the long-awaited deliver sent by God to redeem humanity.

Through His life, death and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecies about the coming Redeemer and established the kingdom of God.

Names Relating to Jesus’s Divinity

Son of God

One of the most common names and titles for Jesus is the Son of God. This name affirms Jesus’ divine nature and eternal relationship with God the Father. As the Son of God, Jesus shares the same divine essence as the Father (John 10:30).

Theologically, the title Son of God refers to Jesus’ status as the only begotten Son of the Father (John 3:16), bringing glory and honor to the Father. Scripturally, the title is rooted in Psalm 2:7 and refers to the Messiah.

The title affirms Jesus’ role as the anointed King and supreme authority over all creation.

The title Son of God appears over 40 times in the New Testament. At Jesus’ baptism, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

When questioned if he was the “Son of God,” Jesus affirmed this was true (Matthew 26:63-64).

The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. However, Jesus proven his claim through his miracles, resurrection, and divine essence. As the Son of God, Jesus alone can bring salvation to mankind. This affirms his divine nature and authority.

Lord

The name and title Lord (Greek Kyrios) appears over 700 times in the New Testament, underscoring its importance. In the Old Testament, the title Lord referred to Yahweh, the covenant name of God. Calling Jesus “Lord” affirms his divinity and equality with God the Father.

The apostle Paul frequently calls Jesus our “Lord Jesus Christ” highlighting Christ’s authority and divine rulership (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2).

In Philippians 2:9-11, Paul says that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

Historically, the early church struggled with Jesus’ divinity. The Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. established that Jesus, as the Son of God, is “very God of very God.” This affirmed that Jesus, as Lord, shares the same divine essence as God the Father.

Theologically, Jesus as Lord affirms his divine sovereignty and authority over all human powers and earthly lords.

His resurrection and ascension established his lordship for all eternity (Romans 14:9). Calling on the name of the Lord is the only way for salvation (Romans 10:9-13).

Jesus as Lord affirms his supreme authority as a divine being.

Descriptions of Jesus’s Earthly Ministry

Teacher

Jesus was an amazing teacher who used simple stories and examples to explain profound spiritual truths. He told parables to convey important lessons about God’s kingdom in a way that everyday people could understand.

Some of Jesus’s most well-known parables include the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and the Sower and the Seeds.

Jesus also used metaphors like referring to himself as the “light of the world” and his followers as “the salt of the earth.”

He asked thought-provoking questions to challenge people’s assumptions and get to the heart of what God desires for humanity. As a teacher, Jesus illuminated God’s love and pushed people towards living a more compassionate, faithful life.

Healer

During his earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated God’s healing power by curing people of various physical and mental illnesses.

He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, and drove out demons from the oppressed.

Some of Jesus’s famous healing miracles included healing a paralyzed man who was lowered through a roof (Mark 2:1-12), giving sight to a man born blind (John 9:1-12), and raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44).

Jesus often told people that it was their faith, not his own power, that made them well. His healing miracles displayed God’s compassion and were signs of the coming Kingdom of God where every tear will be wiped away.

Through his acts of healing, Jesus revealed that he came to make broken people whole.

Good Shepherd

Jesus described himself as the “Good Shepherd” who lovingly leads his flock. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus cares intimately for each person, guiding them to the best pastures and protecting them from harm.

Jesus as the Good Shepherd is in contrast to hired hands who abandon the sheep out of selfish motivations (John 10:11-18). Jesus demonstrated shepherd-like care in many ways:

• He sought out marginalized “lost sheep” like tax collectors and brought them back into the fold.
• He patiently corrected the errors of his followers and turned them towards the right path.
• He sacrificed himself on the cross for the sake of the flock.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus laid down his life for all people and continues to lead those who hear his voice into the safety and peace of God’s Kingdom. His tender guidance reflects the depth of God’s love for humanity.

Old Testament Ties to Jesus as Redeemer

Lamb of God

Jesus is referred to as the “Lamb of God” in John 1:29 and John 1:36. This title connects Jesus to the Passover lamb in Exodus 12 that was sacrificed in order for God’s judgment to “pass over” the Israelites.

Jesus as the Lamb of God represents his sacrifice for the sins of humanity so that God’s judgment would pass over those who put their faith in Christ.

Just as the Passover lamb’s blood was smeared on the doorposts as a sign of faith and obedience, those who put their faith in Jesus and his sacrifice will be spared from God’s judgment of sin.

Jesus is also associated with the suffering servant passages in Isaiah 53. This passage refers to the servant as being “led like a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7), indicating Jesus’ willing submission to death on the cross for our sins.

Overall, the title “Lamb of God” emphasizes Jesus’ sacrificial death to atone for sin and pave the way for redemption.

Lion of Judah

The title “Lion of Judah” for Jesus appears in Revelation 5:5 where he is described as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.”

This connects Jesus to the blessing pronounced on the tribe of Judah by Jacob in Genesis 49:9 that referred to Judah as a “lion’s cub.”

As the Messiah descended from the line of David and the tribe of Judah, Jesus fulfills this ancient blessing and prophecy.

Furthermore, the lion represents strength, power, and sovereignty throughout Scripture. In naming Jesus the Lion of Judah, Revelation highlights his authority to open the scroll with the seven seals.

Though Jesus humbled himself as a sacrificial lamb, he will return one day as the conquering Lion of Judah – the powerful and victorious King.

This title captures both the gentleness and meekness as well as the majesty and might of Christ.

Seed of Woman

Jesus is called the “seed of woman” in Genesis 3:15, which reads: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

This verse, part of the curse pronounced on the serpent after the Fall, contains the first Messianic prophecy in Scripture.

The “seed of woman” refers to Jesus who would one day defeat the serpent and redeem humanity from sin. Though Eve participated in the first sin, her offspring Jesus would provide the solution to sin’s curse.

As the “seed” or descendant of Eve, Jesus born of a woman represents a new hope and the reversal of the Fall. Through his sacrifice, Jesus crushed the serpent’s head even as the serpent bruised his heel on the cross.

Poetic and Symbolic Names for Jesus

Living Water

One of the most poetic names for Jesus is the “Living Water.” This term comes from Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, recorded in John 4.

When the woman came to draw water, Jesus told her that he could give her “living water” so that she would never thirst again (John 4:10-14).

This metaphor symbolizes the spiritual sustenance only Jesus can provide to one’s soul. Just as water is essential for physical life, Jesus sustains believers with eternal life.

The prophets Jeremiah and Zechariah used the image of living water to foreshadow Jesus’s coming and the spiritual nourishment he would bring (Jeremiah 2:13, Zechariah 14:8).

Jesus later reinforced this symbolism by declaring himself to be the source of living water (John 7:37-39). Drinking of his spiritual water quenches the soul’s thirst in a way that worldly substitutes like wealth, relationships, or accomplishments cannot.

Bread of Life

Another meaningful name for Christ is the “Bread of Life.” Jesus used this phrase in John 6 after feeding the five thousand men from only five loaves of bread and two fish (John 6:1-14).

When the crowds returned for more, Jesus explained that while the previous bread perishes, he is the “bread of life” that lasts forever (John 6:27, 35).

Eating this bread connects believers with Jesus’s sacrificial work on the cross.

The scene recalls the manna God provided to the Israelites wandering in the desert, demonstrating Jesus as the true heavenly bread come down to give life to the world (John 6:30-33).

As ordinary bread nourishes the body, Christ’s body given at Calvary nourishes the soul with forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal relationship with God.

The bread imagery affirms Jesus’s role in securing believers’ salvation.

True Vine

A final significant metaphor for Christ is the “True Vine.” Jesus introduces this in John 15:1 when he states, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” Grapevines frequently symbolized Israel in the Old Testament (see Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 15).

By calling himself the “true” vine in John, Jesus claims to be the ultimate and perfect fulfillment of Israel.

Through this title, Jesus stresses the concept of his oneness with followers. Just as a vine and branches share an intimate connection, Christ’s disciples can only live and bear fruit by remaining in him (John 15:4-5). Severed from Jesus, believers lose their purpose and vitality.

But connected to Christ as part of God’s vineyard, Christians gain meaning and belonging. The true vine epithet highlights the preeminence and nurturing sustenance Jesus provides his people.

Whether named the Living Water, the Bread of Life, or the True Vine, Jesus uses these poetic images to reveal his identity and relationship with those who trust in him.

The names masterfully illustrate Christ’s spiritual nourishment that connects Heaven and Earth.

Conclusion

Through exploring the many rich names and titles given to Jesus throughout Scripture, we gain a multi-faceted picture of His identity and purpose.

He came as the long-awaited Messiah to save people from sins, as the very Son of God in human flesh, as the greatest Teacher and Healer, as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming Redeemer, and as the source of eternal spiritual life and nourishment.

May the Lord Jesus Christ become more real and wonderful to you through studying and meditating on the meaning found in His 100 names.