Jesus, the Name

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“’Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel’

“(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-25

“Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,.. emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

From the unnamed inclusion in creation’s Trinity to the promised incarnation of majestic descriptors, the Son of God bore the Name above all names from eternal beginning. Present in Genesis, active in history, announced with hope, He came. Teaching, serving, loving, dying, rising, ascending, Jesus fulfilled every aspect of His glorious Name and lives today crowned with it still. (Genesis 1:26; John 1:1-4; Revelation 19:11-16)

Our Savior’s name, often dismissed, sworn, or reviled, swells with significance for the Christian’s everyday. The Wonderful Counselor is our Mighty God and Everlasting Father who’s saved us from sin, imparting everlasting peace. Which name do I treasure most?

If my daily efforts aim to exalt my name over His, how can I set aside self to hallow His above all? What will I do to guard and extol the Name worthy of reverence? Whom can I prepare to one day humbly bow in Spirit and truth? (John 4:24)

“O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.” ~Charles Wesley (1739)

Lord, write Your great name on my heart that I daily bear its beauties, and by word and deed, proclaim its holiness and power.