St. Helen’s Daily Lenten Devotional
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
We are all known by different names over the course of our lives. You have a ‘given’ name of course and perhaps a nickname but people will often get your attention using other terms. You may be called son, brother or better-half, Dad or friend, or you may be familiar being saluted with ‘Sir!’. You may be identified as daughter, sis, sweetie, Mommy or even ‘Archdeacon’! The relationship we have with someone is frequently what determines the title we receive. If it isn’t the right relationship then the title doesn’t ring true.
The name of Jesus is inclusive of all the multifaceted roles our Saviour plays. Consider Isaiah’s stirring prophecy of the coming of God as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) or the New Testament letters and Gospel imagery of the good shepherd, the true vine and the bread of life, and such titles as Emmanuel, Rabbi and Lord, to name a few. When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter replies “You are the Christ, the Messiah of God.” (Luke 9:20)
Who do you say that He is?
Jesus, my shepherd, brother, friend,
my prophet, priest and king,
my Lord, my life, my way, my end,
accept the praise I bring.
From How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds in a Believer’s Ear by John Newton (1725-1807)
Newton was a sailor, a captain of slave ships who later became an abolitionist, an Anglican clergy person and a prolific hymn writer. Amazing Grace is perhaps his best known work, particularly in the secular world.