This coming Sunday we’re planning on singing the contemporary song, “What A Beautiful Name.” Here are the words to the chorus: “What a beautiful Name it is, What a beautiful Name it is, The name of Jesus Christ my King. Nothing compares to this, The name of Jesus.”
In the Bible, the name of God conveys more than identity, it conveys the entire personhood behind the name. You may recall Moses encounter with God in the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-14). “Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
God’s response to Moses question is so informative – “Say to this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” What then would make the difference with the people of Israel? “I AM” had sent Moses! God’s name “I AM WHO I AM” spelled out exactly who God was and is. Self-contained, self-revealed, He is the Almighty, powerful God, who needs no other. His name tells the story!
The beautiful name of Jesus tells His Story – Savior, Lord, the One who forgives our sins and makes us whole again. And then here’s what’s so cool – on Sunday our first song is “I Stand in Awe.” Why can we stand in awe of Jesus? Because His is the beautiful name that conveys all He is to us!
Come on Sunday ready to worship the name of Jesus! And as we worship Him who alone is worthy of our adoration, we will finish Hebrews 7 by asking the question – “Why Jesus?” Why not Budda or Mohammed or some other religious figure? We will discover afresh this Sunday “why Jesus” is because He alone is able to fully save us! He’s praying for us! And He is absolutely unlike earthly priests.
As you prepare for Sunday, don’t forgot that next Sunday, June 21st is Dad’s Day! I’ve worked on a special message that will consider our Father in heaven. He loves us, we are His sons and daughters, He comforts us in trouble, and He give us good gifts!
See you Sunday at 9.30 and 10.30!