The Name
Hebrews 1:1-2:4
I heard about a man who as he traveled he began to visit churches. He was traveling in the North East and out West and in the foyer of every church he visited he noticed a golden phone with a sign above it that said, “Talk with God, $10,000.” Finally, he came to Tennessee and as was his custom, he visited a church. He noticed the same golden phone in the foyer, but this time the sign said, “Talk with God, 25 cents.” He was confused and called one of the elders over to ask him why there was such a difference in cost. The elder replied, “Well, you see, from here it’s not long distance.”
Because of Jesus, as long as you are with Him, God is never long distance from us. Being in Christ, puts you in touch with God.
As a child I had to memorize Hebrews 1:1-4 and 2:1-4. As I recall, I got the words right, but it was a long time before I got the point of those words.
God has something to say to you and me. He’s been communicating ever since the beginning. He speaks through what he has made. He spoke through prophets, angels, burning bushes, a donkey, and other means as he saw fit in the Old Testament. Today, God speaks to us through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. But Jesus didn’t just speak the word of God, Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
The Bible says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Peter stood up in a hostile assembly and boldly proclaimed, Acts 4: 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone. 12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." The earliest disciples understood that the message of God and the man Jesus Christ were inseparable. John wrote, 1 John 2: 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
There is today a movement to equalize all mainline religions. I’m not speaking about denominations who call on Jesus Christ but practice worship differently, and believe different doctrines. I’m talking about a movement since 9/11 that would place the name of Jesus Christ on a par with Mohammed or Buddha or any other religious founder. In fact, Judy Mayes gave me this news article that says: “The findings of a recent survey show that 44% of adults agreed that the Bible, the Koran, and the Book of Mormon are just different expressions of the same truth.” Only 38% of those polled rejected the idea that these three are different expressions of the same truth. 630 adults from 48 states were surveyed.
What is going on? Now, the problem is not that God has not spoken. The problem is that people are not listening to Jesus Christ. Perhaps, also, the church is failing to proclaim Christ as we should. While the people who believe in Jesus are fighting with one another about what He has said, the world around us has decided that our message is no better than any other religious message. Our Savior is no better that any other religious savior. The Bible, the Koran, the Book of Mormon, whatever, they are all the same!
The message of Hebrews is exactly the message the world needs to hear today. It is the message that the church needs to hear too. God has spoken! Jesus is His voice! It’s time to look up and listen up and line up with the Word of God! We must beware that we do not drift away! God has given us the Name that is above all names! The Name, Jesus Christ. The one and only Name by which all men everywhere and for all time must be saved.
Are you speaking the Name?
Jesus said, “If you confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father in heaven, but if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father who is in heaven.” Matt 10:32-33.
When president Bush was inaugurated, a preacher was invited to say the prayer. This prayer would be heard by millions of Americans across the nation. Before the prayer this preacher was asked, “Are you going to use the Name?” He answered, “Yes, I am.” He was told that it would cause trouble, but he wouldn’t give in to the pressure. As he closed the prayer, he spoke it loud and clear: In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. I heard that prayer and I have to say, I was so glad to hear my Lord’s name.
We need to get the name right! Jesus Christ, and we also need to get the message right that Jesus Christ has spoken! You can’t just put Jesus on the label and expect God to honor it, we must also listen to Jesus Christ and carefully pay attention to what he says!
Part of the problem today is that people want a partial Jesus. We like Jesus the Savior, but would rather not have Jesus the Master. We applaud Jesus the servant but we can resist Jesus the King. Give me Jesus the gift of heaven, but not Jesus the captain of my life. I want a Jesus who forgives me of my sins, but it’s harder to handle a Jesus who commands me to go and sin no more. Give me a comfortable Sunday morning Jesus who lifts my spirits and lightens my loads and not a Jesus who calls me to give up all and change my life. Who does he think he is? Listen, you can’t dissect Jesus Christ and have the portion you like. It’s all or none. Jesus is not a “have it your way” Lord. Jesus Christ is God.
Because of who Jesus is, we listen to him and follow what he says.
There is nobody like Him.
As we go through this book of Hebrews, we will see that Jesus is our Prophet, Priest, and King. He is God, whose throne is forever and ever, yet he became a man that he might call us, justify us, and save us.
Here’s a practical application to today’s message:
In view of who Jesus Christ is and His Name that is above all names. How is that reflected in our lives today?
There’s a song that says, “Take the Name of Jesus with you.” I remember singing this song as a closing song for many church services when I was growing up. Are you confessing Jesus Christ to one another daily? Colossians 3:17 plainly says: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
I want to ask you the same question as was given to that preacher who prayed at Bushes inauguration: Are you going to use the Name? Paul said, We proclaim Him! We preach Christ! Jesus said, “Confess me before men.”
This is basic. This is not difficult, unless you don’t believe who he is and what he has done. Then, yes, Jesus name is hard to talk about. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Mt. 12:34 What fills your heart is what comes out your mouth! Let Jesus Christ fill your heart!
