Sunday Service: 15/12/2024
Supporting Scripture: Philippians 2:9-11
Title of Message: What’s in a name?
Delivered by: Pastor Mercy Richardson
Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our topic today is the names of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. We’re not just talking about a word or a title. But about the very essence of who He is. His name reflects His character, His power, His love, and His grace. (Philippians 2:9-11)
“Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
This passage reminds us of the supreme authority and majesty of Jesus’ name. It’s a name that commands respect, a name that inspires awe, a name that brings salvation.
Knowing the names of Jesus is not just about gaining knowledge; it’s about building a relationship. It’s about understanding who He is, so that we can love Him more deeply, trust Him more fully, and follow Him more closely. So, let’s get ready to discover the divine nature of Jesus through His names and the significance of depending on His name in our walk with Him.
We begin by focusing on the name of Jesus. This name, given to our Saviour at His birth, holds profound significance. It’s a name that echoes through the corridors of time, a name that has been whispered in prayers of desperation, shouted in moments of joy, and held close in times of sorrow. Jesus, a name that means “God saves,” is a beautiful and powerful reminder of His mission on Earth. He came to seek and to save the lost, to bring salvation to a world steeped in sin. This name, Jesus, is the first step in understanding who He is. It’s a name that speaks of His humanity, His connection to us, and His divine purpose.
Next, we turn our attention to the name Christ. This is not a surname, as some might think, but a title. It’s the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah, which means “Anointed One.” In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil as a symbol of God’s blessing and appointment. When we call Jesus the Christ, we are acknowledging that He is the Anointed One, the one chosen by God to redeem humanity. This name, Christ, speaks of His divine authority and His role as our Redeemer.
Another name we often associate with Jesus is Emmanuel. This name, which means “God with us,” is a powerful reminder of His presence in our lives. It’s a name that assures us of His constant companionship, His unending love, and His unwavering commitment to us. When we feel alone, when we feel lost, when we feel like we’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we can take comfort in the name Emmanuel. He is with us, always and forever.
The name Lord is another significant name of Jesus. It’s a name that speaks of His sovereignty, His rule, and His authority. When we call Jesus our Lord, we are submitting to His leadership, acknowledging His right to rule in our lives, and recognizing His supreme authority. It’s a name that demands our obedience, our respect, and our allegiance. The name Lord is a declaration of His lordship over all creation, including our lives.
Each of these names reveal His character, His nature, His mission, and His relationship with us. They remind us of His humanity and His divinity, His closeness and His supremacy, His love and His authority. These names are not just labels; they are revelations of the One who is above all names. These names are invitations to know Him more, to experience His presence, to receive His grace, and to live in His love. Each name is a doorway into a deeper relationship with Him, a pathway to a greater understanding of His heart. So, let’s not just learn these names; let’s live them, let’s love them, let’s lean on them. For in His name, we find our identity, our purpose, and our hope.
The first aspect of this power that we need to grasp is the power of Jesus’ name to save. (Romans 10:13)
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This is a promise that is as true today as it was when it was first written. When we call on the name of Jesus, we are not just uttering words into the air. We are reaching out to the One who has the power to save us from our sins, to deliver us from our troubles, and to secure for us an eternal place in His kingdom.
The power of Jesus’ name brings victory. In the book of Acts, we read about how the early disciples performed miracles, healed the sick, and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. They understood that there was power in His name, power to overcome the forces of darkness, power to triumph over evil.
When we call on the name Jesus, we should be reminded of His victory, His triumph over sin and death. We should be filled with confidence and courage, knowing that the One who has overcome the world is with us, is for us, and is in us.
The power of Jesus’ name brings peace. (John 14:27). “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
When we call on the name of Jesus, we are calling on the Prince of Peace. We are reaching out to the One who can calm our storms, who can still our hearts, who can give us a peace that surpasses all understanding.
This peace is a deep, lasting peace that is rooted in the assurance of His presence with us, and in the hope of His promises to us. It is a peace that can carry us through the trials and tribulations of life, a peace that can sustain us in the midst of the storm, a peace that can secure us when we are confused and are uncertain about things.
The power of Jesus’ name brings transformation. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”
When we call on the name of Jesus, we are not just calling on a Saviour. We are calling on a Transformer, a Re-newer, a Re-creator. We are reaching out to the One who can take our brokenness and make us whole, who can take our mess and make it a message, who can take our test and make it a testimony.
This transformation is a deep, internal change that affects every aspect of our lives. It is a change that begins in our hearts and then radiates outwards, influencing our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our relationships. It is a change that makes us more like Jesus, more loving, compassionate, and gracious.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, let us not just know the power of Jesus’ name. Let us experience it. Let us depend on it. Let us lean on it. Let us call on it in times of need, in times of trouble, in times of uncertainty, in times of fear. Let us call on it, for there is power in the name of Jesus, power to save, power to bring victory, power to bring peace, power to bring transformation. And let this power be our strength, our hope, our joy, our peace, our salvation, our victory, our transformation, now and forevermore.
It’s in His name that we find comfort in times of sorrow, strength in times of weakness, and hope in times of despair. Amen.