Jesus, Name, Mt. 1.21

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). The name “Jesus” gives voice to the entire gospel. One word, one Man’s name, expresses all of Scripture. Genesis 1:1 through Rev. 22:21 finds its home in this solitary personal noun. There is no single word that parallels the communicative vitality of the password “Jesus.” “Jesus” publishes its possessor’s character and mission. The Lord Jesus Christ was passively obedient in His acceptance of every Christian’s eternal punishment. He was actively obedient in keeping the law perfectly on behalf of every Christian. Jesus’ character assured that His earthly mission would be a flawless success. Therefore, when God looks upon a Christian He sees His saints draped in His Son’s perfection. God says, Paul writes, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous” (Ro. 5:19). How special is the name “Jesus?” God says, Paul writes, “God also highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). The world has a significant problem with the name “Jesus.” Worldlings are much more likely to take His name ‘in vain’ than ‘in honor.’ It flows to their tongues quite quickly as an expletive. Nevertheless, they loathe to embrace His name as the means of God’s grace. Therefore, Peter and John were imprisoned because they deployed “the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene” (Acts 3:6). Though they knew they would be tried by the Sanhedrin, Israel’s Supreme Court, they proclaimed on Jerusalem’s streets the name that is above every name. Was all the punishment they received worth it to them? Jesus’ name enabled a congenitally lame man to walk (Acts 4:10). There is immeasurable power in His name for you see, even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name (Lk. 10:17). They went out rejoicing! How comfortable are you with publicly professing the name of Jesus?