THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME

MATTHEW 1:18-25

INTRODUCTION

Names in our day do not mean much. Parents pick out names for their children for many reasons. Some names are chosen to honor someone they think of as their hero or the name chosen after a family member, but most of the time, there is no special significance behind the choice of a name. In Bible days names were chosen for a reason. Names meant something and people often lived up to their name. Jacob – “Trickster”, David – “Beloved”, Abraham – “Father of a multitude”, Moses – “Drawn out”. The angel commanded Joseph to name the baby that Mary would bear, Jesus. Why? That name would describe in detail the entirely of all that Jesus was coming to do. Let us take that Name Jesus and say “The Name above every name”

I.  THAT NAME DECLARES HIS IDENTITY

• The Name Jesus means “Jehovah is Salvation”. It was a very common name in that society.
• Jesus may have been a common name, but He was no ordinary baby. His birth was normal but his conception was not normal (Luke 1:26-38)
• Jesus was a real human baby, but He was also God in the flesh (John 1:1-14)
• When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God came to earth to live among men (Phil 2:5-8)
• The creator became dependent upon the creature.
• The Jesus of the Bible, is God in the flesh!

II.  THAT NAME DECLARES HIS INTENTIONS

• His name means “Jehovah is Salvation”
• The word Salvation tells us what Jesus came into this world to do and accomplish.
• Jesus came to “save His people from sins” (V.21).
• The word “save” means “keeps safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction”
• Jesus Christ came to this world for one purpose only and that purpose was to die on the cross for sinners. (Phil 2:8, John 18:37, Isa 53:4-6, Psa 22:1, 12-18)
• Jesus declared His mission on earth in Luke 19:10.
• Jesus was born to die, you and I were born to live!

III.  THAT NAME DECLARES HIS POVERTY

• He left His own glory in heaven, born as a man, to identify with the very people He came to save.
• The Lord of glory came not as a king, but a humble servant, He was not born in a palace, statehouse or Nairobi hospital, but a manger.
• Jesus Christ understands poverty ,Matt 8:20, weariness, John 4:6, Matt 8:24- hunger, Matt 4:2 – rejection, John 1:11;19:10 loneliness, John 6:15 temptation.
• Jesus went through all the temptation and trials of the human condition.
• Jesus went through it all that He might identify himself with us, understand us and be able to comfort us in our trails (Heb 4:15-16).

IV.  THAT NAME DECLARES HIS INDIVIDUALITY

• There may be many children called Jesus but only one EMMANUEL (V.23)
• Many children were born into the world that year, but only one of them would grow up to be the savior of the world.
• Up to now, Jesus Christ stands above. He is the only one who can save a lost soul (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)
• All mankind has fallen into deep pit of sin, as he lies there perishing many would be saviors, they have their advice.
• The legalist says “you should not fall into pits”
• The religionist says “I can tell you how to get out of that pit and avoid other pits in the future”
• The pessimist says “you are going to die in that pit”
• The optimist says “I have seen worse pits than that”
• The realist says “you need to accept your pit”
• The spiritualist says “there is no pit”
• But Jesus Christ says “I will get into the pit with you and lift you out” that is what Christ has done for you and me. (Psalm 40:1-3)
• Only Jesus is able to save the sin – sick soul.

CONCLUSION

• Jesus is the Name I love to hear.
• Jesus is the Name above every name.
• In Jesus Christ we see, His incarnation, humiliation, crucifixion, resurrection, glorification and salvation.
• Do you know him? Do you want to know Him more?
• Today is the day of salvation – call on His Name you will be saved.