Kings and kingdoms will all pass away but there’s something about that Name. The Name of Jesus is precious and is highly exalted. His name had diamond-like characteristics. It’s one jewel and there are dozens of facets of that jewel. I am going to highlight and magnify thirty-seven unique names of Jesus.
The Names of Jesus — Advocate
I John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
What is an advocate? An advocate represents an accused person to a judge. This is the person pleading with the judge and jury to find the accused not guilty.
Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. He was delivered up because of our sin and raised again because of our justification (Romans 4:25). There is no double jeopardy in God’s Kingdom.
Hebrews 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God
Immanuel
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
God with us. That has a wonderful sound. God with us.
The Creator of all things came to earth as a baby. He lived a perfect and sinless life. His actions defied logic and natural law. God was with us for around thirty-three years. During that time He modeled love, joy, goodness, kindness, and more.
God with us.
The Names of Jesus — Mediator
I Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
A mediator settles issues judicially. Jesus is our Mediator.
The church, at least in America, is soft. We treat God like an errand boy or our own personal Genie in a bottle.
He’s none of those things. He can be terrifying. Ask Moses about Him.
God is 100% holy. We need Jesus to stand in the gap and mediate on our behalf. Stop with the insipid nonsense of things like, “Only God can judge me!” or “Only God knows my heart!”
Those two ideas should make you wet yourself.
We need Jesus. He’s our mediator and without Him we’re toast.
The Names of Jesus — The Word
John 1:1-3 In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
I am reading a fantastic book titled, The Return Of The God Hypothesis by Stephen C. Meyer (link to his site). The book provides solid scientific evidence for Intelligent Design. The reading is not simple. I’m way over my head in every area but I am also enjoying the content.
To help me gain a better grasp of the material I listen to podcasts with Dr. Meyer. I was listening to one recently between him and John Lennox. Dr. Lennox quoted John 1:1. He proclaimed that the act of creation was a speech act and information based. As such, the universe is not mass-energy based but word based.
The Names of Jesus — Savior
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
We all are in desperate need of a savior. Saving ourselves is impossible. Our redemption is costly and it would be impossible for us to make that debt right.
Jesus used an astronomical amount in the parable of the unforgiving servant as a way of illustration. The forgiven debt in that parables was 150,000 years of wages (Matthew 18:21 – 35).
Attempting to save ourselves is futile. It’s impossible to do more good than bad. Everything that we do is tainted by original sin. Our good works are stained.
We need a Savior.
The Names of Jesus — I AM
Jesus used eight I AM statements in the Gospel according to John. Here’s a link to an article that I wrote about those statements.
The Names of Jesus — The Chief Cornerstone
Psalm 118:22 A stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
I Peter 2:7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
A cornerstone is vital in a building project. If the cornerstone is missing or improperly aligned the building will be weak. Premature deterioration or destruction is inevitable.
We must have Jesus as our Chief Cornerstone. Life is tough. Storms will hit us on a daily basis. Our only hope of surviving is with Jesus as our Chief Cornerstone.
The Author and the Finisher of Our Faith
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A measure of faith has been given to us all. Jesus is the author of our faith. He also perfects our faith. Faith can be increased and it can be solidified. Jesus is the One who finishes or perfects our faith.
The Names of Jesus — Head of the Church
Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. TV preachers and other similar famous reverends are not. We must do things His way and not our way.
Jesus told us to go into all the world and to make disciples. That command is crystal clear. Most churches do everything but obey Matthew 28:18-20. We attempt to be cool and to be nice but refuse to preach the Kingdom.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. Obedience to Him is absolutely necessary. The church belongs to Him. He is fully aware of how to effectively build His church.