I absolutely love the study of the names of God in the Bible. Over the past two or so years, that’s been one of my favorite things to look for as I read cover to cover.

Of all the names of Jesus recorded in Scripture, I have found only two that He shares with His people. One of those names is “Child.”

Child, the name of ultimate belonging to the Father. The name that gains the protection and provision of the Father, and gives the privilege of unlimited access to Him. The name that holds responsibility unto the pleasure of the Father. The name that proclaims Jesus an heir and prince of the magnificent Kingdom of the Father.

Child. It’s a name that is so special and beautiful, it almost seems wrong to think we could share that special name with Jesus.

After all, who but Jesus should have such a wonderful name? He, the beloved and firstborn, who willingly obeyed the Father’s command and laid down His life; whom the Father willed to raise back to life and gave the highest, exalted position of authority over every angel, authority, and power! 

Yet, it is the Father’s good pleasure that Jesus should be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29). Jesus the True Son gave His life to bring many sons to glory and He is not ashamed to call us brothers (Hebrews 2:10-11)!

Over and again, the Bible declares the truth that God the Father regards each person who believes in Jesus Christ as His child.

“Yet to all who received (Jesus), to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s choice, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).

We also have the Father’s protection and provision. We have unlimited access to the Father. And we carry the responsibility of God’s children, to glorify Him, show Him to the nations, and bring many to Him.

“In (Christ) and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12).

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

Oh, and we’re also co-heirs with Jesus in the glorious Kingdom of God.

“The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children. Now, if we are children, then we are also heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ – if, indeed, we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:15).

Are you mind-blown yet? Does it make your heart overflow with love and gratitude?

The significance of this name (or title, some may say) is especially remarkable to me at this time of year.

Before Jesus’ incarnation, it was prophesied that a child would be born to us, a son given (Isaiah 9:6). Before we became sons and daughters of God, Jesus became the Son of Man. He came to be a child, born of flesh and of spirit, in order to share the same gift of belonging with us. 

We already were children of men, but, just as Jesus was not born of natural descent, we also have been born of the Spirit to become children of God.

May you be overshadowed by a sense of awe that Jesus came to reconcile you to the Father and share that wonderful name: child.