Jesus: Name Above All Names — Truth

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. — John 14:6

When Satan persuaded Adam and Eve to question God’s command, and they believed the lie instead of the divine Word, the truth of God was lost. (Gen. 3:1-6; John 8:44)

Ever since then, man has sought in many ways to regain truth for himself, but failed (1 Cor. 1:2). Truth is only found in Him who came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, 17). Certainly, He did come to teach men the truth (John 3:3), but His assertion is that He is, in Himself, “The Truth” (John 14:6).

Jesus is absolute Truth; it is impossible for Him to lie. Our active search for truth inevitably leads to Him who declared Himself to be truth (John 14:6).

What a source of comfort it is to have someone on whom we can thoroughly depend, who is the personification of truth, and can be relied on to fulfill any promise he may make.

The personification of truth is Jesus .

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. — John 7:18

Jesus is someone on whom we can depend.

 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. — 2 Tim. 1:12

As a true ambassador of truth, Jesus did not speak of Himself, but reveals the truth give him by His Father (John 17:6-8).

We must take Him at His word (Mark 9:7).

We must continue in Him who is Truth (John 8:31), and thereby experience the blessing of Truth.

 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free — (John 8:32).

Questions:

1.         How long has mankind been searching for truth?

2.         Where is truth found?

3.         Why is it impossible for Jesus to lie?

4.         Why is it a source of comfort that Jesus is Truth?

5.         How are we to respond to Jesus the Truth?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus thank you for being Truth. Because you are the Truth we can believe on you and be set free. Thank you for being one on whom we can depend. Help us to take you at your word and continue abiding in you. In Your name, Amen.

Hymn:                         How Firm a Foundation

1 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2 “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

3 “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

4 “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

5 “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

Jesus: Name Above All Names — Servant

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. (Isaiah 52:13-15)

 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles (Matthew 12:18).

One of the most revealing insights into the character and mission of Jesus Christ is given when Jesus responds to his disciples who are arguing over who will be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus said, “but I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27).

The name of “Servant” is applicable to Jesus in at least three ways.

In His voluntary Submission

Service to the Father was delight to him (Ps. 40:7, 8).

Jesus willingly took on the form of a servant (Phi. 2:7). The term servant indicates one in contradistinction from one of a higher rank.

In His incarnation, He emptied and humbled Himself, and condescended to perform acts that are appropriated only to those who are servants.

In His entire Dependence

Although He voluntarily undertook to serve the Father, He never did anything independently of His Father.

The unceasing prayerfulness of His life testifies to His entire dependence upon God.

In His Steadfast devotion

He never flinched from the task set before Him (Matt. 16:22).

Anticipating the climax of His service at Calvary, He would pray, “I have finished the work thou gavest me to do.”
(John 17:4).

Questions:

1. What was Jesus’ mission?

2. How does the incarnation reveal His servanthood?

3. Why does dependence indicate servanthood?

4. Why is it important that His servanthood continued to the “end”?

5. How is His servanthood to be an example to us?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus thank you for being a Servant. Thank you for taking on the form of sinful flesh and paying the price for sinful man. Thank you for the life that I have in you. Help me to follow your example and be your servant. In Your name, Amen.

Hymn:

This Is Our God, the Servant King  by Graham Kendrick

 From Heaven, You came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live.

Refrain

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
“Yet not My will but Yours”, He said.

Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered.

So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other’s needs to prefer
For it is Christ we’re serving.

Jesus: Name Above All Names — Rabbi

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)

Rabbi is synonymous with teacher.

Rabbi was the usual expression of honor and respect used by a pupil when speaking of or to his instructor in Jewish schools.

The word is a transliteration of a Hebrew word signifying “my master” and was used in contrast to a slave. It became to be the recognized form of address with which the learned were greeted.

Christ was often referred to as Rabbi (cf. John 3:2)

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (John 1:38).

Jesus was the perfect Law-Giver and Teacher, and we are to follow Him in all matters of faith and worship.

Jesus is a teacher and we are to go to Him to learn

Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. (Ps. 25:4)

Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. (Ps. 119:12)

The disciples specially asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1).

Jesus gave His disciples (and us) the pattern for prayer. (Luke 11:2-4).

Our prayers should consist of

• Adoration – Hallowed be thy name
• Intercession – Thy kingdom come
• Submission – Thy will be done
• Supplication – Give us this day our daily bread.
• Confession – And forgive us our sins
• Petition – Lead us not into temptation

Questions:

1.         What does “rabbi” mean?

2.         Who addressed Jesus as “rabbi”?

3.         What type of teacher was Jesus?

4.         Can we still go to Jesus to teach us?

5.         What one thing did his disciples ask Jesus to teach them?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for you Son Jesus not only to be my savior but to be my teacher, who shows me your path and teaches me your statutes. In Jesus, Amen.

Hymn: 

Savior, Teach Me, Day by Day
by Jane Eliza Leeson
https://hymnary.org/text/savior_teach_me_day_by_day

1 Savior, teach me, day by day,
love’s sweet lesson to obey;
sweeter lesson cannot be,
loving him who first loved me.

2 With a child’s glad heart of love,
at thy bidding may I move;
prompt to serve and follow thee,
loving him who first loved me.

3 Teach me thus thy steps to trace,
strong to follow in thy grace;
learning how to love from thee,
loving him who first loved me.

4 Love in loving finds employ,
in obedience all her joy;
ever new that joy will be,
loving him who first loved me.

Jesus: Name Above All Names — “Quickener”

 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John 5:21)

Technically there is no name that begins with “Q.” So I have created one based on biblical data – “quickener,”

To quicken means “to come to life.”

The Bible makes it clear that God is the one who makes things come to life.

In the New Testament, there are eleven references to “quicken.” Each member of the Trinity is seen as the agent doing the quickening.

The Father

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1)

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Col. 2:13)

The Son

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John 5:21)

The Spirt

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63)

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Pet. 3:18)

It is because of Christ that we are quickened (made alive)!

Questions:

1.         What does “quicken” mean?

2.         Who in the Trinity quickens?

3.         Before one is quickened what is he?

4.         In is necessary for God to quicken one spiritually?

5.         Who does the Son quicken?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for quickening me from death and my trespasses because of Jesus dying for me in place. Thank you! In Jesus, Amen.

Hymn:

Alive in Christ
by Isaac N. Wilson
https://hymnary.org/text/alive_in_christ_o_happy_day

1 Alive in Christ! oh, happy day
When from the death of sin I rose;
Sweet was the new birth’s glorious thrill,
And day by day ‘tis sweeter still.
Alive in Christ! my spirit glows
And my glad heart sings on its way,
As it recounts the wondrous word
That reconciled me to my Lord.

2 Alive in Christ! I grow in grace,
And joyous tread the upward road;
Holding communion sweet with God,
I pass the mystic vales of sin:
Alive in Christ! yes, all within
Is purged from guilt and purified;
I closer seek my Saviour’s side,
And joy to see his smiling face.

3 ‘Tis done, complete in Christ I stand;
All former joys are lost in quthis, —
The deep, subdued subduing bliss,
Lord I am naught: thou, thou, art all.
May thy sweet peace forever fall
On me, for my poor will is gone,
Thine is the best, let thine be done;
For so I love thee, O my God.