Some of you are old enough to remember the stupid song “The Name Game.” When I say stupid, I mean STUPID! Like in totally worthless. Or someone-had-too-much-time-on-their-hands-so-they-thought-up-a-dumb-song song. And please don’t get me started on the blatant vulgar words that came up with certain names. UGH!
Parents love to play the Name Game. Some go way out of their way to name their child a name that will stand out for a long, long time. Hollywood celebrities tend to set the pace for that: Rumer, Scout, Suri. I love the final scene (but couldn’t find it except in Italian) from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where we find out where Indy got his name. (The dog for the unitiated).
My name is pretty common. Well, it was. In 2012 it wasn’t even in the Top 40 of names for a boy. It means “Resolute Protector.” But my parents didn’t care what it meant. All they cared about was that it was my dad’s first name and since I survived (first brother died), I was to carry on his name. Oh, but they surely could have given me a different middle name. Now my initials are either WAG or BAG. Yeah, like I am going to put a monogram of that on a sweater or any clothing.
All lightheartedness aside, names were given in Bible days as a way for the parents to place upon their child their hopes and dreams. Last week I preached about another name. This week I am going to speak about the name that we probably hear or use the most. You can find it in Luke 1:30-31. He has been given many names. Lamb of God. Light of the World. Bright and Morning Star. Lily of the Valley. The Resurrection and the Life. Alpha and Omega. I like what Max Lucado says,
Trying to capture the grandeur of the Name with words is like hearing the Salvation Army band playing Handel’s Messiah. Nice try but it doesn’t work.
The Name that fits him like Cinderella’s shoe fit her foot is JESUS. Translated it means “God Saves.” I like what Pastor David Jeremiah said:
God knew what He was doing when He named His son. Jesus means, ‘Jehovah Saves’ or ‘The Lord of Salvation.’ And that is who He is- the Salvation of the Lord.
He wasn’t given the name “Joe” or “Benjamin.” His name had meaning. Perhaps that is why the words of Paul in Philippians 2:9-11 carry so much more weight. Peter’s words ring even louder to us at this time: “This Jesus, is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
I would appreciate your prayers for this weekend. Thanks ahead of time. Do you think there is a more important name for Jesus?
Make sure you check out Sele and Ed for more on Christmas posts.
None!!!
🙂
Bill – would you be interested in doing a book review? I have a Kindle file and paperback version. Email: gyoung9751@aol.com
Replied to you Glynn. Would be honored to do so.
Due to the fact that there was never a language with the letter “J” until the 14th century or so it seems like it would be more appropriate to use the actual name he would have used while he was alive. If we can figure out what that was.
They used a “Y” as in Yeshua. He used Son of God. He used Good Shepherd. Anyone else want to add to this?
For me, Jesus, the Savior, works just fine.
Me too.
Very cool, Bill. There is definitely no name above “Jesus.”
Agree wholeheartedly Stephen
Human minds and words fall woefully short to describe the perfect majesty of our Savior. In that perfection is His grace that falls under His perfect love on our behalf.
There was a clip from a sermon I heard years ago by S. M. Lockridge titled, “That’s My King.” You may have heard it, but the point is he describes all the names of Christ and then ends by saying, “I wish I could describe Him to you.”
If anyone hasn’t heard this, it’s worth the three minutes, I promise.
http://cechome.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/i-wish-i-could-describe-him-to-you/
Love this clip. I have used it before
We could probably preach whole sermons using only the names of Jesus. But that name….oh the power of THAT name!
Whole series have been done on them, but that name is above all.
Ha, hard to top that one.
😛
Jesus name above all name.
And the angels called Him Jesus.
There just something about that name.
Just a few different lines from songs that came to mind as I read your post. Jesus works for me.
Those lines go through mine also.
I love how you started out . .. and then came to THE NAME . .JESUS. Really blessed me and know it will your congregation too! God bless you and lead you on and on!
Nope, you summed it all up. 🙂