“Wherefore, God also has 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’s never been another one like it.

Jesus.

How casually we say His Name and even put it on bumper stickers, lapel pins, drinking glasses, etc.  In fact, marketing agencies learned a long time ago the selling value of the Name for their products.  But, making it so commonplace may very well lead to complacency and contempt.

We should never forget God Himself “gave Him this Name above every name.”  This Greek form of His Name comes from the Hebrew name “Joshua,” which means “The Lord is salvation,” and was originally Hoshea/Hosea, which means “Deliverance or Salvation” (Num. 13:8, 16).  This was later changed by Moses to Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; I Chron. 7:27), which then became Joshua.  And, after the Exile, it was further changed to Jeshua/Yeshua, which had become Jesus by the time He was born in Bethlehem.

Regardless, it was no accident the Heavenly Father Himself chose the earthly Name for His “only begotten Son” when He sent Him (Lk. 1:31).  He knew the Jews usually chose a name that revealed one’s character—and what better name to describe Who Jesus was/is and the work He would do than “The Lord is Salvation”?  Hallelujah!!

Nowadays it’s very common to hear the name Jesus in Hispanic cultures and Joshua in various languages around the world.  But, we should never forget there’s only one “Jesus” that’s been “highly exalted (Grk. ‘huperupsoo’—‘to elevate above others, raise to the highest position, to lift high, etc.’)” by God Himself and at which “every knee shall bow,” while confessing “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.”

We should also be aware there are counterfeit forms of His Name being used today.  One is “Isa,” the Arabic form used by Muslims, who believe he was a great prophet, created by Allah, who didn’t die and one day will come back with the Muslim Messiah (the 12th Mahdi) to battle the Anti-Christ.  But, Arabic-speaking Christians used “Yasu,” their form of Joshua, which shows the importance of believing in the one, true Jesus sent from God.

Oh, dear Pilgrim, someone once asked “What’s in a name?”  In the case of Jesus, everything.  We should not fear to speak it as the orthodox Jew does “YAHWEH,” substituting Adonai instead.  But, we should never forget how beautiful and precious this Name is.  And, we should never use it in a coarse way or as some type of magical “faith-formula” as some do.

Why, not stop right now, close your eyes and whisper that Name aloud?  Say it slowly. . . quietly. . .reverently. . .and see if your spirit does not rise up within you.  We’re instructed to pray in Jesus’ Name because that Name is very precious to the Father—and it should be to us, too.

By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated November 23, 3009

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