Has God Spoken On Your Name

We saw, with our human understanding that even Jesus did not have a name that was only carried by Him. Other people were also named Jesus, Yeshua or Joshua. Even today, it is not uncommon, especially in certain parts of the Spanish speaking world, for example, to name male children, Jesús.

Now we continue with our discourse on Jesus’ Name.

Was it a Spectacular Name? Having noted that Jesus was not a name special to Mary’s first born, we also are made to consider this. Jesus was not an extraordinary name. For example, it was not a name given only to kings and royalty. It was a name with the same meaning for one as for all.  Jesus, Joshua, Yeshua and all these names carry one idea in meaning, “the Lord saves.” In other words, Jesus was carrying the same meaning as any other whose name was Jesus. For example, if the name Leonard, in English or Leonardo in Italian, means brave-hearted, or lion-hearted, anyone then, who bears that name, bears the same meaning. The name itself does not change its meaning depending on the individual.

I can hear you thinking; but the Name of Jesus is above all other names. I can even hear you quoting the well-known passage, Philippians 2: 9 – 11. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. When Isaiah prophesied about the Advent of Messiah, Israel’s Saviour, this is what He spoke. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9: 6b.

Yes indeed! Jesus is above all names, for He is above all. He is God, in human flesh, and it is by the Holy Spirit that God lifted the Name of Jesus above all names. Here is the mystery. It is the Lord God, the Sovereign Lord, who has exalted the ordinary and made it extraordinary.  In other words, you must see that the Lord God gives ‘rise’ to the simple, the earthly and the human. God exalts the lowly and gives power to the humble. He makes the earthly heavenly.

The Name Jesus, must be seen as an ordinary name, which the Lord has exalted and made a Name above all names. This miracle and mystery of Jesus’ Name is exemplified and given life through the Advent Story. Just think about it! God in His magnificence, omnipotence and unsurpassed wisdom, chose to choose an ordinary virgin, with an ordinary name, to do a most extraordinary work for Him. Have you ever thought that the name Mary was not unique to Jesus’ mother? Yet God made her and her name miraculously special when, through His heavenly angel Gabriel, He spoke her name. But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. Luke 1: 30.

I know that many of you, if not all of you know several facts about the Name of Jesus. However, there are some of us who do not know. I have therefore, been called to bring you a few of them. This will prove, not just interesting, but most spiritually uplifting.

I will begin to bring them to your attention, starting tomorrow.