Jesus: Name Above All Names — “Zoe” – Life

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)

Zoe is the Greek word for “Life”

Jesus is the Life, or He is Life personified and perfect in Himself (John 11:25). He told a grieving Martha “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Paul understood what Christ meant when he stated, ““When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

Life is not something but Someone. John makes this clear when he says, “This life is in His Sorn,” or “this life is His Son.” Then comes the warning – “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12).

When a sinner accepts Him as Savior, he becomes one with Him, and derives life from Him, just as the stem, leaves, and fruit receive their life or sap from the vine (John 15:1-8).

Spiritual life can only be derived from being in union with Jesus who is the Life.

A person may be physically and mentally alive, yet be spiritually dead.

Christ described those in the church at Sardis who had a name that they lived but were dead (Rev. 3:1).

To be spiritually life, you must have Jesus.

If Christ is our Life, then for to me to live will be Christ, and to die, gain, seeing that death opens the gate to life in its completeness (Phil. 1:21).

Questions:

1.         Who is Life?

2.         Biblically, what is life?

3.         How is spiritual life derived?

4.         When will the fullness of life be achieved?

5.         How does seeing Jesus as Life impact our daily Christian living?

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for being the Life. It is by you that I have everlasting life. My I not see eternal life as something to be gained, but a relationship to have. May my prayer be that like Paul’s “for me to live is Christ to die is gain.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn:

Savior, More than Life to Me

Fanny J. Crosby

1 Savior, more than life to me,
I am clinging, clinging, close to Thee;
Let Thy precious blood, applied,
Keep me ever, ever near Thy side.

Chorus:
Every day, every hour,
Let me feel Thy cleansing pow’r;
May Thy tender love to me
Bind me closer, closer, Lord to Thee.

2 Through this changing world below,
Lead me gently, gently as I go;
Trusting Thee, I cannot stray–
I can never, never lose my way. (Chorus)

3 Let me love Thee more and more
Till this fleeting, fleeting life is o’er;
Till my soul is lost in love
In a brighter, brighter world above. (Chorus)

Jesus: Name Above All Names — Young Child

Go and search diligently for the young child” (Matt. 2:8)

Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt (Matthew 2:13)

The references to Jesus as the “young child” reveal how early in life He was persecuted. There was no room for Him in the inn, and shortly after none for Him in Bethlehem, or Judea. Hearing of his birth, Herod was troubled and though he pretended to want to worship Him, murder was in his heart.

Luke is the only historian of Christ’s childhood and boyhood. There are only two verses that give us insight into the growth and character of “the young child.” (Luke 2:40, 52).

1.         The child grew

Evidently there was a quiet development of Jesus. The Incarnation, there was a true acceptance of humanity. Jesus had normal growth and development without the limitations of sin.

He was a real child with a normal childhood. He thought like a child. He spoke as a child. He played as a child.

2.         Waxed strong in spirit

His whole being – body and soul – gathered strength.

3.         Filled with wisdom

He learned to read. He learned to write. He learned to work.

As His mind unfolded, wisdom increased.

4.         Grace of God was upon Him

He was favored by God. What a testimony!

Questions:

1.         When did Jesus begin to receive persecution?

2.         What does it mean that Christ grew?

3.         What does it mean that Jesus waxed strong in spirit?

4.         What does it mean that He was filled with wisdom?

5.         What is the significance of Christ being favored by God?

Prayer:

Thank you Heavenly Father, for revealing that Jesus was a young child. He didn’t come as a fully grown man but he has the same beginning as us. The Bible says that He understands us, he even understands what it means to be a child. Thank you for sending Jesus the perfect Man – as a child and as an adult. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn:

What Child Is This
William C. Dix

1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus:

This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

2 Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Jesus: Name Above All Names — “Xristos” — Christ

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)

Christ (Xristos) is the most familiar of all the titles of our Lord. (Xristos is Greek for our English name Christ)

The Hebrew word messiah and the Greek word Christ both mean “anointed.”

Christ is Jesus’ official designation and the title occurs in the four gospels 50 times, and it is usually prefixed with the article “the.”

The use of the article formed a vital part of our Lord’s testimony to the Jews, who knew of the claims of false messiahs. However, “the” is not usually given in English bibles. In the person of Jesus, the Messiah had come and offered Himself as “the Christ,” the Deliverer of the Jews, not only from Gentile rule but from their sin (Luke 1:67-79).

The general use of Christ, as an anointed one, is associated with Old Testament prophecies (Matt. 22:42; 23:8, 10; John 7:26, 27, 31). As the priests, kings, and prophets of old were anointed to their respective offices, and were thus reckoned as God’s anointed ones we can readily understand why Christ – the Anointed One – should be chosen to express the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was the prophet priest and king of whom Moses and the Prophets gave witness.

Through grace the name of Christ has become the cherished name of Christians who from they take their name

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts. 11:26).

Questions:

1.         What is the Hebrew word for “Christ”?

2.         What does Christ mean?

3.         What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ?

4.         What does Jesus as the Christ deliver people from?

5.         What is the significance of using “the” with Christ?

Prayer:

O Lord, thank you for sending Jesus as the Christ. Thank you for sending Him to be the Deliverer of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn:                         O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire

O Christ, our hope, our heart’s desire,
redemption’s only spring!
Creator of the world art thou,
its Savior and its King.

2 How vast the mercy and the love
which laid our sins on thee,
and led thee to a cruel death,
to set thy people free.

3 But now the bands of death are burst,
the ransom has been paid;
and thou art on thy Father’s throne,
in glorious robes arrayed.

4 O Christ, be thou our lasting joy,
our ever great reward!
Our only glory may it be
to glory in the Lord.

Jesus: Name Above All Names — Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6 — For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Although the King James Version separates these as individual titles, it is better to link them together: the wonder of a Counselor.

The word “wonder” or “marvel” refers to something that is extraordinary and humanly incomprehensible. It is a word associated with the supernatural acts of God, and it therefore attests to the Messiah’s deity. The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.”

The wonder of this brief statement disturbs philosophers, delights beggars, and comforts the brokenhearted. What He did for us in His redeeming work is beyond comprehension.

The word “counselor” implies the wisdom that is required not only in giving advice but also for issuing decrees. A counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people. Jesus always knows what we are going through, and He always knows the right course of action.

The fact that Isaiah has linked these two words suggests that the Son has infinite wisdom or omniscience, a unique perfection of deity.

Isaiah uses these same words to describe Jehovah of hosts, “which is wonderful in counsel” (Isaiah 28:29).

The uniqueness and superiority of divine counsel are evident in Isaiah 40, which declares that God takes counsel from none (40:13-14)

What is true of God is true of Christ!

Are we as astonished at the wonder of a counselor as Isaiah was? Are we captivated by His charm, insight, and practical genius? Where else can we be so assured of the acceptance and forgiveness and comfort of God?

Questions:

1.         What does the word “wonder” mean?

2.         What is something that Messiah has done that causes us to be full of wonder

3.         What does the word “counselor” imply?

4.         In the Old Testament who was portrayed as a counselor?

5.         What does the linking of the words “wonder” and “counselor” suggest?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son who is the Wonderful Counselor.  He is full of wonder. He truly is Awesome. He is all wise. He is the perfection of deity. Help me never to lose the wonder of Christ and the wonder of the salvation that He offers.  In His name, Amen.

Hymn:                        
His Name Is Wonderful
By Audrey Meir

His name is wonderful
His name is wonderful
His name is wonderful
Jesus my Lord.

He is the mighty King
Master of everything
His name is wonderful
Jesus my Lord.

He’s the Great Shepherd
The Rock of all ages
Almighty God is He.

Bow down before Him
Love and adore Him
His name is wonderful
Jesus my Lord.