What is in a name?

We all have had to give a name to either a pet or a child. Sometimes this is an easy task and others times it takes some time. Many times these names have a certain meaning to them, other times they don't. For a pet it may be the way they look or something that reminds us of another important area of our life. For a child it may be a name of a past family member, or something that goes along with our faith, or maybe something unique. God had a very important name for His Son, check these verses out:

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Wow, the name above all names! Jesus Christ! So exactly what does Jesus Christ mean? The name Jesus means "Savior." It is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. It is given to our Lord because "He saves His people from their sins." This is His special role. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by cleansing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day. The word “Christ” comes from christos, a Greek word meaning “anointed.” It is the equivalent of the word mashiach, or Messiah, in Hebrew. So, to be the Christ, or Messiah, is to be “the anointed one of God.”


So what is in a name? In the case of Jesus Christ...Everything! One day ALL will bow to Him, believers and non-believers alike! Every tongue will proclaim "Jesus Christ is Lord!" God will receive all the glory for this! Whew! I am praising God I have already proclaimed this....willingly! Have you?


The name above all...Jesus Christ....makes me smile just saying that!


Tom