THERE IS NO GREATER NAME THAN JESUS Matt. 1:21 We come to this time of the year to think of what God has done to give us the gift of life. I would like to center our thoughts on the name He chose to give to His one and only begotten Son. As I came upon this message I found that many of the names that are today come from someone being the son of someone with a name they used. So from the son of Tom we got the name Thompson. From the son of Peter we have name Peterson. Form the son of John we have Johnson. Do you know how you received your name? My middle name came from my uncle who died in the Korean War. We know that the Hebrews did not name their children before they were born but waited for an event or a sign to name the child what they sensed they would become. For many they gave the name eight days after birth as they presented the child at the temple. When it came time for God to name His Son it was a very important time. He who was to be born of a virgin named Mary who would be the wife of Joseph a carpenter. God did not wait for the earthy parents to name His Son. So we have the verse we read to start this message with: "When the time came for Him to be born in Bethlehem." While the star was shining, the angels were singing and the shepherds gazing someone would have asked, "Who is this in the manger?" Mary or Joseph would respond, "His name is Jesus." Something you might not know but will after today, the word "Jesus" appears over 500 times in the Gospels and if you include the rest of the N. T. it is 900 times. This seems to be a very wonderful name for the Son of God. Jesus out of all the titles and names given Him seemed to be the dearest. As you take time to look in your hymnal there are many songs with this name in its title The meaning of the name Jesus means "The Lord of Salvation." Let us find out why that name is so significant and just right for what meets our need. Why it is that Jesus is the favorite names of our Lord. I. JESUS IS A VERY SIMPLE NAME. How would you like to have a name like Tiglath Peleser-Adonibezek? This is the name of one man in the Bible. If God had used that name think of writing poetry or writing a song or having to pray in that name? God who is all wise used only five letters and a two syllable word which can be pronounced the same in almost every language. It is simple enough for a child to learn. I did not know but it was a common name among the people with whom he was born into. Many you probably know that Jesus is the same name of Joshua in the O. T. As it has been translated into the many languages we have known it is easy to give music to it. Jesus has the sameness to it around the world. No matter what language you hear you can pick out the name Jesus when it is spoken. It is the universal symbol that God uses to express His love for all people. Jesus the name high above all. In hell, on earth and sky. Angels and man before it fall: And devils hear and fly. Jesus, oh the magic Of the soft love sound. How it thrills and trembles to creation’s bound. The angel was told by God, "When you down to see Joseph, let him know to name my Son Jesus." It was recorded in heaven that it would belong to God’s Son. "No voice can sing, No heart can frame Nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than Your blest name, o Savior of mankind!" Bernard/ "Jesus, O how sweet the Name, Jesus, every day the same. Jesus, let all saints proclaim, His worthy praise forever." When children grow up knowing that name and hearing about that name they think that Jesus has the answer to every question and can solve any problem. A little boy was asked in S. S. class, "what is a little furry animal that climbs up in a tree and eats nuts and saves acorns?" This little boy came from a Christian home and relied, "I know it sounds like a squirrel, but I know the answer is Jesus."
II. JESUS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT NAME. It has been said there are 11 men in the O. T. named Joshua which translates in Jesus. No had used that name until Moses created that name for a man named Hosea the son of Nun. It sounded like some sort of savior and he was wasn’t he? This Joshua was a picture of Christ. He had striking contrasts with Jesus. He led the people out of the wilderness into the promised land. Jesus takes us out of the wilderness of sin to a heavenly land. Joshua led the people to fight against enemies who protected themselves with walled cities. Jesus leads us out to conquer the flesh, the world and the devil. He helps us conquer great obstacles and to win out over temptations. As Joshua did so Jesus leads us to the inheritance that God has for us. Joshua brought an earthly and temporal salvation whereas Jesus gives us a salvation that is forever in heaven where there is not sin. We find them together in Hebrews 4:8 "If Joshua had given the people rest, God would not have spoken about another day." If Joshua could have done all that needed to be done, God would have not needed to send Jesus. Joshua only could bring what this earth has so Jesus came to bring us all of heaven.
III. JESUS IS A VERY STABLE NAME. Though we know that Jesus was born in unimportance over 2,000 years ago and that He died like a criminal at the age of 33 His name is still the most well known name is history. We have had it passed on to us and we will pass it along to the next generation. It is the most astonishing name in the human race. At this time of the year there are people who protest who Jesus is and what He stands for. They are in opposition to all He came to do and what His church is doing today. Yet they take advantage of what this season affords to them by giving gifts and having, going to parties and decorating their houses on the inside and outside. Now think with me about this: have your ever taken time to go to a birthday party of someone you did not like? If you have an enemy who you despise and were invited to go to a party for him would you go? In our human nature we most certainly would avoid that party for we do not like to give honor to those we hate. At this time of the year the enemies of Jesus go to His party. You see they want the benefits but do not want to pay the price of giving their lives to Him of which they must do if they really want to enjoy the party.
IV. JESUS IS A VERY SUPERIOR NAME. Listen to verses that tell us this. Eph. 1:20-21 "He worked with that same power in Christ when he brought him back to life and gave him the highest position in heaven. He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come." Philip. 2:9-11"This is why God has given him an exceptional honor- the name honored above all other names- so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." JN 1:12 "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Acts 4: 12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by whom we must be saved." JN.15:16 Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. MT. 18:20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." These are only a few of the verses mentioned in the Bible that tell us how superior His Name is.
V. JESUS IS A VERY SELECTED NAME. "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." As we have said the Joshua of the O. T. could not do that. There are many would be saviors who have tried to show us forgiveness but they all fail. There are government programs for all most any need you have but money is perishable item. There are banks that offer great ways to save or increase your money for a life of ease yet this life does not offer much for those who have broken heath even with much money. There are places where you can go for physical fitness but after you have all the muscle you want or stamina time is gone and you find the hours of the day too short to enjoy that great body you have. There are time management books or seminars to help us get well organized but we are lazy and waste much time even though we have it all together.
If we touch on the religious life we find that a priest can not forgive our sin nor can a pastor pray for us to have our sins forgiven. We have to go to Jesus direct if we want to have life freed of sin. Of no other person can it be said that He came to save people from their sin. This one fact sets Him apart from all others. Other religions would like to make the Christian feel he is narrowed minded. Now maybe we would not like to have that title but we need to be just as narrow minded as the Bible is and it declares, "Narrow is the way, which leads to God. Broad is the way that leads to destruction." Jesus is the only way to God. Salvation does not come by the Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Wesleyan or Pentecostal Church. If you are not trusting in Jesus for your salvation you have misplaced your trust in the wrong thing or person. A poet has written: There is majesty in the name of God. There is personality in the name Jehovah. There is power in the name Lord. There is unction in the name of Christ. There is attraction in the name Immanuel. There is intercession in the name Mediator. There is help in the name Advocate. But there is salvation in none other, none under heaven given among men, apart from the name Jesus. An Alexander may build an empire. A Napoleon may change the nations of the world. A Newton may bring about and intellectual revolution. An Edison may create a new world for science. A Wyatt may user in a new era of industry. But there is only one who can touch and transform the human heart. And that one is Jesus.
It is in His name that lives are transformed. I talked with a man just yesterday who told me he had told God that he hated him, that he hated Jesus, and also the Holy Spirit because his life was such a mess. He is a Christian today and thinks this is the greatest church he has ever gone to. I know his life has been changed and told him when he was in sin he might have said many things but when he came to Christ all that was forgiven and the blood of Jesus washed his past away never to be brought up again. I am here to say "Jesus has changed my life." For over forty years He has been my Lord and Savior and guided my life to live holy under His direction.
One can try self-improvement, education, therapy groups, fitness centers and religion and become a better person in this world. They will still be miserable for peace can not be found in these. There is only One who can give peace and a life that is worth living. His name is Jesus. How does He do it you may ask? He does not change us from the outside in but from the inside out. We have some that try to live for God without Christ but we learn to call them hypocrites.
What is the name for which we get Christmas from? What is the name of God’s only begotten Son? What is the name of the One who can save us from our sins? His name is Jesus. There is no greater name in all the earth or in heaven.
