Behold, the lamb of God

The Latin saying "Nomen est omen" states that the destiny or future of a person is revealed in one's name.

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Thus "Jesus," which means "God saves," strongly proclaims Jesus' vocation to be the Savior of humankind. This name has variations in Israel like "Joshua" or "Yehoshua."

The Archangel Gabriel revealed this name to Mary in the Annunciation and also to Joseph in a dream. Thus, on the eighth day after the birth of the child, as is the custom among the Jews, the parents gave the name "Jesus" to the child.

The Son of God entered in to the world and is given a common human name. But at the completion of his mission, the name takes literally what it signifies, so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:10-11).

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God after the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.