The Name of Jesus
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).
It was a wonderful day when, from the presence of God, Gabriel appeared in despised Nazareth to announce to Mary she would have a Son called Jesus. Joseph learned in a dream about Mary’s Son and was given the responsibility for calling the child Jesus, “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
The full name of Charles, Prince of Wales, and heir apparent to the British throne, is Charles Philip Arthur George. The name of the Son of God, the creator of all things, is simply Jesus. To the people of God this despised name immediately raises in our hearts the wonder of divine love. He also has the title “Jesus of Nazareth”, which simultaneously describes His profound power over His creation, His lowly grace, and His ministry of love, healing, forgiveness and salvation.
This morning, it is Jesus who gathers us together: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). His name was not invented on earth. It was given from heaven, and the mention of it fills our hearts with the wonder of a journey from glory into the world He made, to reveal the heart of God. We follow Jesus afresh in recalling His birth, childhood, and ministry of grace and truth. We read the title above the cross, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” We remember Joseph “went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before” (Luke 23: 52-53). We rejoice to read of Jesus’ resurrection: “Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you’ (Luke 24:36) and we bow down and join Thomas in worshipping Jesus as our Lord and God.
On the mount of Olives, we hear the angels speaking again of another day when Jesus would come down, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” And by faith we understand that God has highly exalted His Son and given Him a name above every name. And there is a coming day when, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). In the meantime, we live our lives “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Like the once blind Bartimaeus, we follow Jesus (Mark 10:52).
Jesus said, “Ask in my name” (John 14:13; also 15:16, 16:23-24,26). We have the privilege of approaching the Father in all the majesty and power of the name of Jesus. His name is “like perfume poured out” (Song of Solomon 1:3, NIV), and today we have a fresh opportunity to bow in worship before our Saviour and our Lord, full of gratitude and praise:
LORD Jesus, gladly do our lips express
Our hearts’ deep sense of all Thy worthiness (T. Willey).
