Identity is very important to humans. Consider graves where humans through the ages have been buried. It is so important, where possible, to somehow mark the body with some symbol or inscription of the person’s identity. Perhaps, in days of cultures when writing was not commonplace, the grave goods marked the identity as much as possible, so the body kept respect as an individual being. Many typical graves today have headstones. If it is a Christian burial of someone identifying through baptism and life as a Christian,identifying with Christ, this is typically shown by presence of a cross-shaped headstone, if possible with the name and dates of birth and death inscribed on it. It is all like an ancient-rooted type of logo of the person, either in inscriptions and headstones, or similar items in other culture burials, and perhaps grave goods in ancient cultures, along with other symbols of culture or religion such as alignment of the grave and body with cardinal compass directions (North, South, East, or West). During their life time, other logo symbols might also define someone’s identity. The Queen of England was often identified by a logo name E II R, and signed her name Elizabeth R. Few are ever identified by any kind of logo BEFORE their lifetime. Jesus, on the other hand, had an identity stretching back long before his earthly life, identified by God as “My Christ”, identified by the psalmist King David as “my Lord”, identified to Abraham by God as “your seed” (seed in the singular sense), identified to the very ancient great prophet Enoch as “the Son of Man”, and “the Anointed One”, and “Chosen One”. Jesus in his human flesh and bone life acknowledges all this previously existing identity given him by God. He will have this identity forever, as God has promised him. Much is included in this identity, this logo. He is Priest Forever in the order of Melchizedek (an ancient priest with a hidden beginning and end). Even the symbol of a cross is firmly associated with him by many, because of the ancient meaning of the cross as a mark of priesthood and of the undoer or exorciser of evils, and because it was on a cross that he died to provide remission for sins of his own, as well as for the benefit of the whole world, after which God raised him from the dead to live forever. Those identifying with him, benefit from him in so many ways. Such is the saving power of his identity, and this is symbolised most assuredly in the name given him by God, the name Jesus, meaning salvation. “For he will save his people from their sins.”
