What's in a name?
With Easter coming this weekend, some trivia you can share to be the smartest person in the room--or the Zoom
My latest Florida Weekly column has just been published, and as a subscriber to my Substack site you get first looks whether you’re in Southwest Florida where I live (and where the paper is circulated) or not.
This week, I’m writing about Easter and how it is Jesus got the name we use for him.
Spoiler alert: That’s not what people called him back in his day.
Here’s a look:
With Easter just around the bend, it’s time to ask: What’s in a name?
The name in question is Jesus, whose resurrection is, in the Christian tradition, celebrated on April 20 this year.
While rooting around online for interesting Easter trivia to share, I stumbled across a bit of Bible history regarding how Jesus got the name we use for him today.
Yes, that’s right, during his time, that’s not what he was called.
In Hebrew, his name was Yeshua. When that name is translated into English, it becomes Joshua. So, then, you might reasonably ask, why don’t we call him Joshua? Well, the texts that ultimately were compiled into what became The New Testament were written in Greek, and the translation of the Hebrew “Yeshua” into Greek became “Lesous.” In turn, this was translated into Latin as “Lesus.” And by the time English speakers got hold of it, it was translated once again into Jesus.
As we know, Jesus is also referred to as the Christ. So where did that part of his name originate?
The answer: Many people believed Jesus was “the Messiah,” meaning anointed one or savior. Translating the word “Messiah” from Hebrew to Greek, it becomes “Christos,” or as we have shortened it in English, Christ.
It’s a title, not a last name.
Whether you’re a Christian or not, this is a fascinating history, and there’s certainly no denying the historical and cultural significance of the religion based on the life of Jesus by whatever name.
As for Easter, while it celebrates the belief that Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified, it’s also a secular holiday and is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike, much like Christmas.
After all, who doesn’t like bunnies and chocolate eggs?
And where did that come from? Rabbits and eggs have long been affiliated with fertility and new life in pagan religions, according to the never-wrong internet. New life. Resurrection. Rebirth. It kind of ties together.
Indeed, the name Easter, itself, comes from the Germanic pagan goddess of spring, Eostre. You can also thank the Germans for those chocolate eggs. They do love their chocolate.
There’s a lot more fascinating stuff in this week’s column including day-by-day events you need to have on your calendar. Check it out here:
And have a happy Easter!
J.C. Bruce is a journalist and author of The Strange Files series of mysterious novels (available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, other online booksellers, and at selected libraries). He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and Florida. His latest novel, Strange Timing, was recently named Book of the Year in the Royal Palm Literary Awards where it also won Gold Medals in the Sci-Fi and Thriller categories. When he’s not writing, he’s in training for the International Underwater Ping-Pong Championships.
Sponsored by TROPIC PRESS, publisher of The Strange Files Series of Mysterious Adventures.
