Jesus is His Name
Hebrews 1:1‑4: God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath
in these last days spoken unto us by {his} Son, whom he hath appointed heir of
all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of {his}
glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the
word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels,
as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
God spoke to His people through different means
during the Old Testament era. We find Him first talking with Adam personally.
There seemed to have been a daily tryst enjoyed by Adam with his Creator. As
time progressed, God revealed Himself to His creation directly, such as when He
talked with Noah and Abraham. He also appeared in human form, which is referred
to as a Theophany ‑ God in human form ‑ such as when He appeared to
Abraham in Genesis eighteen in regards to the judgment coming upon
God also was known by several names or titles for
recognition. God revealed Himself to the people in the time of their need as
the God of that need. God was recognized in the Old Testament by some 174 names
or titles. But, now that He has appeared in the person of Jesus Christ, He is
recognized by the name “Jesus.” All of the many names God was known by in the
Old Testament have found their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
It has been suggested that if sin had not
entered into the world, the acquisition of the knowledge of God would have been
the occupation of man forever.
We find the Old Testament prophets speaking
longingly of the coming One. David, the great king of
The fact that God was coming to bring redemption
was no secret. It is echoed throughout the pages of the Old Testament. The
oldest writings of Job speak of His coming. The prophets are found speaking of
that event on several occasions. Many even feel that Eve, when she gave birth
to her firstborn, thought that she had delivered the Redeemer in fulfillment of
the promise. And that the Hebrew wives longed to be chosen as the vessel
through whom the Lord would appear to His people. It is strange that when He
did appear the world who had been looking for Him so long were unaware of His
appearance. While He ministered among them, healing their sick and delivering
their captives, they still refused to acknowledge that Jesus indeed was the
promised Messiah.
ISAIAH 9:6
The book of Isaiah has been called the Fifth
Gospel. Or the Gospel of the Old Testament. Isaiah spoke more about Jesus than
any of the other prophets. His writings are filled with wonderful statements
concerning the coming Messiah and the blessings which will be associated with
Him and the Kingdom which He will establish upon this earth.
Two of his prophecies which stand out so clearly
in prophecy is
Also 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
James Moffatt translates verses six and seven
like this:
“For a child has been born to us, a son has been
given to us; the royal dignity he wears, and this the title that he bears ‑
A wonder of a counselor, a divine hero, a father for all time, a peaceful
prince! Great is his authority, endless is his peace, over David's throne and
his dominion, to base it firm and stable on justice and good order, from
henceforth and for ever ‑ thanks to the jealous care of the Eternal.”
This last prophecy has tremendous ramifications!
First let us notice the phrase Unto us is
born. This is Isaiah speaking prophetically and including himself in the
promise. He would not live to see the fulfillment of his prophecy, but he knew that
some day he would see the One of whom he prophesied. So, he included himself in
the prophecy ‑ unto US!
When we turn to Luke
Isaiah shared the hope of the promised Messiah;
the angels could only look on and share in the announcement of His coming. It
was not their Messiah that was born that night in
Peter, in his first Epistle, 1:12, spoke of how
the angels desired to look into this experience which we enjoy today in the
Holy Ghost: Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us
they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which
things the angels desire to look into.
As mere mortals we have the privilege which no
angel has. We can know the glory which no angel can know. We can have an
experience which no angelic being can know....
WONDERFUL... There was none ‑
there is none ‑ there shall be none ‑ that is more wonderful than
He is! He is a wonderful counselor, or He counsels wonderful things.
It is wonderful what the Lord can do with a life
which is committed to His will. The blessings which He gives to His children
are wonderful!
COUNSELOR... These two probably
should go together. He is a wonderful counselor. But when we separate the two
we can see that He is also Wonderful and a Counselor as well.
Counselor speaks to us of a lawyer, a legal
advisor. He will counsel you wisely and never betray your situation to others.
You can tell Him your most intimate thoughts and feelings and not have to worry
about hearing about them next week around town.
John wrote in 1 John 4:4: Greater is he that
is in you, than he that is in the world. The unique thing about our Counselor
is the fact that He is resident within. We don't have to make an appointment
with Him ‑ He lives in our hearts. Any time we need Him, day or night, we
may have an appointment with Him!
THE MIGHTY GOD... What a contrast between
“a child,” “a son,” and now, “a mighty God”! How can this be? The terms “son”
and “God” do not go together! But that is who he is! Jesus the mighty God! And
yet, He is also the Son! The Son, when we speak of His flesh. The Son, when we
speak of His position as mediator between God and man. The Son, when we speak
of Him as our High Priest who has entered into the holiest on our behalf. But
He is also the Mighty God when we speak of His power to heal the sick; His
power to save the sinner; His power to supply our needs; His power to raise the
dead.
EVERLASTING FATHER... How can He be the Son
and at the same time Everlasting Father? But that is what His name would be
called, the prophet declared! The One who stooped down and wrote in the sand is
the same One who created that sand He was writing in! The One who anointed the
eyes of the blind man was the same One who created eyes in the beginning! The
One who hushed the wild, stormy sea to sleep is the same One who formed the
oceans and seas and set their boundaries.
The Hebrew, we are informed, expresses this
phrase “Father of Eternity.” He who walked this earth for thirty‑three
plus years was also the One who originated all things. Paul put it
appropriately in Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether {they be}
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by
him, and for him.
PRINCE OF PEACE... No one knows real peace
until they know Jesus Christ. He is able to give us peace in the midst of the
storms of life. He will give us peace when everything and everyone around us is
caught up with the turmoils of life.
Jesus spoke of this peace which He gives in John
14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
Paul spoke of this peace in Philippians 4:7: And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus.
JESUS...
All of the names expressing who God is and what
God is in the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Isaiah
said: His name shall be called Wonderful counselor... All of these
expressions are descriptions of what the name “Jesus” possesses and conveys to
believers today.
All we need and will ever need can be supplied
through the name of Jesus.
Our sins are remitted through the application of
the name of Jesus in baptism. We experience salvation through faith in Jesus
Christ.
The Holy Spirit, which fills our hearts is the
Spirit of Jesus Christ (Colossians
Peter put
it quite clearly when he stated in Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved.
The family of heaven and earth is named after
Him ‑ Ephesians
MANY OF THE NAMES:
The Young child ‑ Thy Holy child ‑
The Nazarene ‑ Jesus of Nazareth ‑ Lord ‑ Lord Jesus ‑
The Lord from heaven
The Lord of glory ‑ The Lord of
Righteousness ‑ the Lord of the holy prophets ‑ Lord and Savior ‑
My Lord and my God ‑ Jesus Christ ‑ Christ Jesus ‑ Lord and
Christ ‑ The Lord's Christ ‑ the Christ of God ‑ Lord Jesus
Christ ‑ Lord of Sabbath ‑ Lord of Hosts ‑ Lord of heaven and
earth ‑ Jesus Christ our Lord ‑ Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ‑
Jesus Christ the righteous ‑ Savior ‑ Immanuel
Teacher ‑ Rabboni ‑ Master ‑
Governor ‑ Law Giver ‑ Forerunner ‑ Redeemer ‑ Messiah ‑
A Prince and Savior ‑ Mighty to save ‑
The Just One ‑ The Holy and the Just ‑ the Holy and righteous
One ‑ the Holy one of God ‑ the
Faithful and true witness.
The Firstfruits ‑ the First begotten ‑
the Elect of God ‑ King of Zion ‑ The King of the Jews ‑ The
King of Israel ‑ the King of the Saints ‑
the King eternal ‑ Immortal ‑ Invisible ‑ God manifest in the
flesh.
The righteous Judge ‑ the Judge of the
earth ‑ a Minister of the sanctuary ‑ the Author and finisher of
our faith ‑ Our Advocate ‑ our Peace ‑ Our Ransom ‑ Our
Great High priest ‑ the Horn of salvation ‑ the Captain of our
salvation ‑ the Image of the invisible God ‑ the Way ‑ the
Truth ‑ the Life ‑ the Tree of Life ‑ the Light of Life ‑
the Bread of life ‑ the Word of Life ‑ the Prince of life ‑
the Water of life ‑ the Living water ‑ the Hidden manna.
The Door ‑ the Chief Shepherd ‑ the
Good Shepherd ‑ the Great Shepherd of the Sheep ‑ the Vine ‑
the True Vine ‑ the Root of Jesse ‑ the Day Star ‑ A Living
Stone ‑ that Spiritual Rock ‑ the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession ‑ I Am ‑ Man of Sorrows.
Rose of Sharon ‑ Lily of the valley ‑
Fairest among ten thousand ‑ Bright and Morning Star ‑ the First
and the Last ‑ beginning and the ending ‑ Alpha Omega ‑ King
of kings and Lord of lords ‑ The Only wise God our Savior ‑ the
Almighty ‑ Wonderful ‑ Counselor ‑ Mighty God ‑
Everlasting Father ‑ Prince of Peace.
Jesus is all of this and more. He is a personal
Savior and Lord. He is the Master of any and all situations. When we are
confronted with any problem in life, all we need do is turn it over to Him ‑
He is more than able to bring us out victoriously.
These are all titles or names which are found in
the Word of God ascribed to Jesus Christ. But regardless of what our needs may
be in this twentieth century, the Name of Jesus will amply suffice for the
situation.
If we could learn to lean more on Him, to trust more in His promises ‑
which are Yea and Amen ‑ we would experience more victories and
accomplishments in our lives.
Got any rivers you think are uncrossable.
Got any mountains you can't tunnel through....
Jesus....