Jesus - Name Above All Names

by Pastor Rick Brentlinger
(Pace, FL, USA)

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. - Proverbs 22:1

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things 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

There is something miraculous and powerful and calming about the Name of Jesus but remember that in the first century, Jesus was as common a name as Bill or Bob or Jake or Jimmy. When Jesus was born, no one anywhere on earth prayed in the name of Jesus. And no one used the name of Jesus as a cuss word.

In the first century there were no hymn books with hundreds of songs about Jesus like there are today. There was no praise music about Jesus. Jesus was just a common name for a little Jewish baby boy.

Yet it is no accident that Mary and Joseph named their baby boy Jesus. Rome ruled the world into which Jesus was born. The Greek word for Jesus is Iēsous. The Aramaic word for Jesus is Yesu. The Hebrew word for Jesus is Yehoshua or Yeshua and we translate that into the English name Joshua (Hebrews 4:8) or Jesus (Matthew 1:21). It breaks down this way. Ya is short for God's name Yahweh (or Jehovah) and hoshea means salvation. So Jesus literally means Jehovah is salvation.

Some people believe that Jesus is just another prophet, like Buddha or Mohamed or that He is just another god like Zeus or Krishna. But Jesus is more than just another prophet, more than just another god.

Jesus is our crucified buried and risen Lord and Savior. He created the universe, the earth and the human race. He sacrificed Himself to pay for our sins so that we could be saved. No other prophet did that and no other god did that for us. Jesus alone is our risen Savior.

Unsaved people often
despise Jesus' Name

- Annas the high priest wanted to know: by whose name did you heal this man? Acts 4:7

- Saul thought he should do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus before he got saved, Acts 26:9

- The world reproaches Christians for Jesus' Name, 1 Peter 4:14

Why is the Name of Jesus
exalted above every other name?

1. Because sinners are commanded to believe on Jesus' Name
   
   And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. - 1 John 3:23
   
   
2. Because sinners are saved by Jesus' Name
   
   But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: - John 1:12
   
   Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. - Acts 4:12
   
   
3. Because sinners receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus' Name
   
   To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. - Acts 10:43
   
   
4. Because sinners receive eternal life through Jesus' Name
   
   But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. - John 20:31
   
   
5. Because sinners are sanctified and justified by Jesus' Name
   
   And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Cor 6:11
   
   
6. Because Christians pray in Jesus' Name
   
   And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. - John 16:23
   
   
7. Because Christians give thanks in Jesus' Name
   
   Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; - Ephesians 5:20
   
   
8. Because Christians gather in Jesus' Name
   
   For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. - Matthew 18:20
   
   
9. Because Christians preach in Jesus' Name
   
   And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. - Luke 24:47
   
   
10. Because Christians are hated for Jesus' Name
    
    And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. - Matthew 10:22
    
    
11. Because Christians suffer for Jesus' Name
    
    For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. - Acts 9:16

What is exalted above
the Name of Jesus?

This is why the Name of Jesus is exalted above every name. And yet, there is one thing on earth that you can hold in your hands and read, which is exalted above the Name of Jesus. Do you know what that one thing is? It is the Holy Bible.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. - Psalm 138:2

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. - Proverbs 30:5

Do you exalt the Name of Jesus by living a holy life?

Do you exalt the Name of Jesus by being a witness for Him?

Do you exalt the Name of Jesus by praising Him, by cultivating an attitude of gratitude?

Do you honor the written words of God by reading your Bible and studying your Bible and memorizing verses from your Bible?

If God exalted His word above all His Name, shouldn't you give the Bible much more respect and much more attention in your life?


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