Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-25

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

 

Intro: A name is the title by which one person is designated from another.  It is a way for us to tell people, places and things apart.  In our day, manes do not hold much significance.  William Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”  For us, names are just a way to tell thing apart.

      It was not always this way.  In Old Testament times, a name stood for a person’s “reputation, their fame and their glory.”  Parents often gave children names that described the parent’s hopes and future expectations regarding that child.  The word translated “name” in the Old Testament literally means “A mark or a brand.”  People were given the names they were given for a reason.  A study of Bible names often reveals much about the personality of the people mentioned in the Bible.  For instance, David means “Beloved.”  Abraham means “Father of a multitude.”  Jacob means “Trickster.”  Goliath means “Splendor.”  All of these people proved true to their names!

      In this message, I want to talk about a name we all know.  I want to look at the name of the One mentioned in Matthew 1:21-23.  There must be something special about the name Jesus.  After all, it was a name given to Him by God the Father, Matt.1:21; Luke 1:31.  The name Jesus is a name that has been exalted by the Father, Phil. 2:9-11.  when that name is mentioned, men should bow before Him and confess Him as Lord.  His name is a special name!

      I want to preach for a while on the subject: What’s In A Name?  I want to give you some biblical reasons why His name is a name above all others names.  When we finish, I hope we will be able to understand some of the glory contained in that blessed, wonderful name.

 

  I.                     HIS NAME REVEALS HIS PERSONALITY

(Emmanuel – God With Us)

A.  Reveals A Supernatural Baby – Not just another child, but God in human flesh, John 1:1, 14; Phil. 2:5-8.

B.  Reveals A Supernatural Birth – Not a normal birth, but a virgin birth, Isa. 7:14, which produced a child without a sin nature, 1 Pet. 2:22.

C.  Reveals A Supernatural Battler – Why would God enter this world?  He came to fight a battle that humanity could never wage or win.  He came to do battle with Satan and sin.  (Ill. Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Sam. 17:47.)

 II.                       HIS NAME REVEALS HIS PURPOSE

(Jesus – Jehovah Is Salvation)

A.  Speaks Of His Desire – The name Jesus reveals a God with a desire to save sinners.  We are told that Jesus came into this world not to condemn the lost, but to save them, John 3:16-18.  This was not a new desire, but it was the heartbeat of God even before the world was formed, Rev. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:18-20.  God’s plan was conceived in eternity and consummated in time.

B.  Speaks Of His Deliverance – The name Jesus reminds us that He came into this world for the sole purpose of setting the “captives” free, Luke 4:18.  He came for the redemption of the lost, Titus 2:14.

C.  Speaks Of His Death – The name Jesus reminds us of the fact that He came into this world to die for our sins.  The only way the sin problem could have been dealt with is through the shedding of blood, Heb. 9:22.  Jesus came that He might die on the cross to set us free from sin!  (Ill. Gal. 1:4, “for us”; Gal. 2:20, “for me”.)

 

III.                         HIS NAME REVEALS HIS POWER

(Ill. “His name shall be called…”  Note the word “name” is singular and not plural.  Not His “names”, His “name.”  Jesus displays all the following characteristics at he same time.)

A.  He Is The Supernatural One – This word means Miracle, Supernatural, Secret and Extraordinary, Ill. Judges 13:18.  He is the Miracle Man!  Men cannot comprehend Him, but He can be believed on by the smallest child.  He is wonderful!

B.  He Is The Supervising One – This word mans “to advise, counsel, purpose, devise and plan.”  It refers to His role as the leader and guiding force of our lives.  He is wonderfully qualified for this job.  He is the Planner of the Path, Psa. 37:23; Job 23:10.  He is the Giver of Grace, 2 Cor. 12:9.  He is the Worker of Wonders, Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17.

C.  He Is The Sovereign One – This word means “Hero.”  It refers to “one Who is strong, mighty and invincible.”  He alone is worthy to be our Hero for He has defeated all our enemies, Ill. 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14.  He alone is worthy of our worship.

D.  He Is The Sustaining One – As “Father” God is our “producer or generator.”  In other words, He is our source!  He created us through Adam and He recreated us through Jesus.  As our Father, He sustains us by His mighty power, Luke 12:32; Matt. 6:25-34.  We are His children; therefore, we are His responsibility.

            He is “everlasting.”  There was never a time when He was not and there will never be a time when He is not.  He is the great “I AM.”  He is the eternal, self-existent One!  Our lives are directly tied to His; because He lives, we live!

E.  He Is The Satisfying One – The word “peace” refers to “a state of happiness, well being and prosperity.”  The word “prince” speaks of “a captain, a steward and a keeper.”  He is the Creator and the Sustainer of our peace.  He accomplished peace with God when He died on the cross, 1 John 2:2; Rom. 5:1.  He extends His peace to all who receive Him by faith, John 14:27.  He provides His peace to all those who trust Him in the valleys of life, Phil 4:6-7.  He is the Keep of our peace and the guarantee of continued peace throughout eternity.

 

Conc:  What’s in a name?  If that name is Alan Carr, not very much.  But, if the name is Jesus, everything is in that name!  His name is the source of our salvation.  His name is the hope of our hearts.  His name can break sin’s bondage and cool the fevered brow.  His name can lift the greatest burdens.  His name can comfort the broken heart.  His name is a name worth knowing, because is speaks of a Savior worth loving.  His name is everything.  His name unlocks the door of heaven and closes the gates of Hell.  His name saves the vilest sinner; redeems the blackest soul; and secures the precious saints.  His name may be Jesus, but that name cannot tell us all there is to know about Him.  Listen to some of the names He wears in the pages of the Bible.