Did Jesus Have a Last Name? (Special Podcast Highlight)

Image via Joan Sutter / Shutterstock. Here’s the rundown from this great moment on The Patrick Madrid Show. So, a young caller named Ezra from Naperville, Illinois, jumps on the line and asks: “Um, hi, Mr. Madrid… Did Jesus ever have a last name?” Great question, Ezra! Patrick jumps in with his usual mix of smarts and warmth. Short answer: No, Jesus didn’t have a last name like we do today. Longer answer: Back in Jesus’ time, people were identified by who their dad was or where they were from. So instead of “Jesus Christ” like it’s a last name, He might’ve been called “Jesus bar Joseph” — which literally means “Jesus, son of Joseph.”(Bar means “son of” in Aramaic.)