That Beautiful Name!

JESUS - a wonderful name, the only name by which mankind can be saved, a name that is exalted and to which all mankind will bow someday - truly a name above all names (Isaiah 9:6; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11)! The blessed Jesus is both Lord and Christ. He as God is the complete embodiment of grace and truth (Colossians 2;9; John 1:1, 14).

The name of Jesus conjures up many songs, but a chorus I have come to love says, “We’ll call Him Jesus . . . the sweetest name in all the world, we’ll call Him Jesus, He’ll save us from our sin. And when your heart is full of joy, you’ll call Him Wonderful, and when you’ve almost lost your way, you’ll call Him Counselor, and in the midst of your confusion whisper Prince of Peace, and when you’re all alone, He’ll be Emmanuel . . .”  I so appreciate the reminder of the names or titles from Isaiah’s prophecies that carry so much weight that are given in the song with an application to our everyday lives (Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Matthew 1:23). From the greatness of Jesus being with us to him being our joy, wisdom, or comforter produces a heart of praise, for He does not stand idly by but is actively involved in the life of the believer. “Jesus is all the world to me, my joy, my life, my all . . .” to quote another beloved song about His closeness to us and care for us!

Jesus is the ground of our faith - without Him we have nothing and without Him we can do nothing - He is the source of life eternal and life abundant (John 17:1-3; 10:9-10). Jesus is incomparable in His person and work! Jesus, the Christ, as the perfect God-man who was made a perfect sacrifice for the sin of imperfect mankind (1 Peter 3:18; 2:21-24).

The culmination of all the goodness and greatness of God displayed in the man that is the only mediator with the Father for us, the man Christ Jesus (John 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). He, Jesus, God the Son, by himself purged our sins having become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Hebrews 1:2-3; Philippians 2:8).

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21