Why does Jesus have so many names?

Question

I noticed in read the scriptures that Jesus compares himself to so many things. One place I read he said he is the vine, and another the good shepheard. He also says we are his sheep and his branches. Are these the same meanings?

Answer 1

When Jesus calls himself the Good Sheepherd and us the sheep is to help you understand what He does for us. A sheepherd watches over the sheep in a field and keeps them from danger. Sheep are not very smart. They tend to wander off to far, and they can't see well. So think of sheep as us Christians. We tend to wander off from the fellowship with Christ, and we cant see the traps satan has set for us. So Jesus is like a sheepherd to His children. Same for the Vine as well. If a Christian (Branch) aint growing closer to God then that Christian needs to know why. Hope this helped ya some.

Answer 2

They are to allow us to see the many attributes of God. He is so many things and by the names we can see His true nature.
Also, He addressed people where they lived. Talking to the Jews, he said that He is the bread of life, refereing to the manna they ate in the wilderness. He is the vine and we are the branches, meaning that we are attached to Him and are fed through Him. He is the good Shepherd because we like sheep have gone astray and He comes and looks for us, and lays down His life for the sheep. There is so much of Him to know and this is a major way that we can see many things about Him. Great question!

Answer 3

Yes! One of the reasons that Jesus uses all these examples is that so we can relate to them. In that time (more than ours!), people tended vineyards, they tended sheep. So when Jesus talked about Him being the vine, and us the branches, they could relate to that. They could understand that, without the vine, a branch would wither and die.

People who knew about sheep understood what He talked about. Sheep had to be guarded, so wolves and predators would not steal in and take them, kill them. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd, the shepherd lays down his life for his sheep". People understood, they could relate.

Another verse in the bible tells us that we do not have a high priest that does not understand our weaknesses...that He was tested "in every way that we have been tested, but is without sin". Jesus wanted to make sure that we all know He understands us...He knows about us. And He wants us to understand that He is there for us, always. As the source of our strength (the vine and branches), as the one who will always guide and protect us (the Shepherd). Only two examples of how much He cares for our well being!

Answer 4

I wonder,
how many others do not understand what it means to explain things with an illustration.

Matt.13:24 Another illustration he set before them, saying: “The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man that sowed fine seed in his field. 25 While men were sleeping, his enemy came and oversowed weeds in among the wheat, and left. 26 When the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the weeds appeared also. 27 So the slaves of the householder came up and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow fine seed in your field? How, then, does it come to have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy, a man, did this.’ They said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?’ 29 He said, ‘No; that by no chance, while collecting the weeds, YOU uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the harvest season I will tell the reapers, First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up, then go to gathering the wheat into my storehouse.’”

31 Another illustration he set before them, saying: “The kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard grain, which a man took and planted in his field; 32 which is, in fact, the tiniest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the largest of the vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and find lodging among its branches.”

33 Another illustration he spoke to them: “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three large measures of flour, until the whole mass was fermented.”

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds by illustrations. Indeed, without an illustration he would not speak to them; 35 that there might be fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet who said: “I will open my mouth with illustrations, I will publish things hidden since the founding.”

36 Then after dismissing the crowds he went into the house. And his disciples came to him and said: “Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.” 37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 41 The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness, 42 and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where [their] weeping and the gnashing of [their] teeth will be. 43 At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him that has ears listen.

Using illustrations is a recognized teaching tool.

Answer 5

Well those are not "names" they are just Descriptions. It was like Mohammed Ali who said he Floats like a Butterfly and Stings like a bee. These Pictures of himself like a vine shows how he "gives life and sustains us" the Shepard picture is to show us how we can follow him. Some names he did take for himself is "Son of Man" this meant he was God. and He also reffered to himself as "I AM" this was in reference to the time that God told Moses the same thing (again calling himself God)

Answer 6

Jesus used descriptive terms to teach us what we should strive to be. As the good shephard, he told us that he leads us to salvation. The vine was the symbol of life and growth. Jesus was telling us to live and grow. So, if you think of it this way, you are the good shephard if you lead others to do good. Apply all of Jesus's teachings, and words to yourself. They are there to guide you. After all Jesus is your light.

Answer 7

Jesus Is the Incarnate Son Of God, & long-awaited Messiah. There can never be enough Names or Titles to describe His Holiness.

Answer 8

These are just analogies. Jesus spoke in paradies so that people could understand what he was trying to teach.

Answer 9

No, and yes. He is using these things to describe the different ways in which He functions in our relationship with and to Him.

Answer 10

He uses these as teaching tools. If English is not your native language it can be confusing.