What's in a Name?
Some time ago there was a big ruckus in the legal world concerning "truth in
advertising". For example, if a product called itself a "pain reliever", then it
had to relieve pain. What a concept! Yet sometimes we hear the expression,
"What's in a name?" because we know that some things aren't always what they're
called. Take my name, Ezekiel, for example. It means literally, "God
strengthens". However for many years that was not what I believed. I lived 33
years trying to get my strength from my own devices rather than from where my
name says it comes from. Only after God's grace was poured out on me did I
realize how true my moniker is!
Let's consider the name of One whose purpose was determined before the beginning
of time. The prophet Isaiah told his people in Isaiah 9:6 That someday a Child
would be born. One whose name would symbolize the many wonderful aspects of His
character. "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the
government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."
God's prophet foretold that this coming One would give us guidance. He calls Him
"Wonderful Counselor". The Hebrew word for
wonderful is one that is used for the extraordinary or the miraculous, literally
full of wonder. "Counselor" was used in terms of a king who guided his people
through the consultation of trusted advisors. Thus we have One who would guide
through extraordinary, wonderful counsel. Paul the apostle extols the wonder of
Jesus in 1 Tim. 3:16: "And by common confession great is the mystery of
godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit,
beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken
up in glory." As for the quality of His counsel, Paul tells us that in Him
(Jesus) "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col. 2:3).
Truly Jesus fulfills this as He guides us even today through His Word. All one
has to do is take a look at the changed lives that result from heeding His
advice.
Next Isaiah says this coming One would be called "Mighty
God". The term reveals that not only would He be all-powerful (mighty),
but He would also be God Himself! In other words, He would not just have the
power of God, He would be the God of power! Paul relied on the God of power when
he wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)
in the midst of extreme adversity. We too can lean on this awesome power when we
are faced with distress of any kind.
Isaiah then calls the coming One "Eternal Father"
linking Him conclusively with God who "inhabits eternity" as spoken of in Is.
57:15. In fact, when the Jews proudly told Jesus that they could trace their
ancestral roots back to Abraham, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58) The Jews were infuriated and prepared to stone
Jesus because such a statement made Him equal with the God who gave His name as
"I AM" to Moses in Ex. 3:14. The Hebrew writer reminds us that "Jesus Christ is
the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb. 13:8).
Finally Isaiah describes the coming Messiah as the "Prince
of Peace". One of the many meanings of the Hebrew word "prince" (Shar) is
"administrator". Since it's evident that Jesus didn't come to end all wars, the
peace He came to administer must have a deeper significance. Peace means
literally "joining together" and this is exactly what Paul meant when he wrote,
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1). It was
Jesus' voluntary, vicarious sacrifice for our sins that made this peace possible
as in Is. 53:5 "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His
wounds we are healed." (NIV) He is the One who made peace with God possible and
He is the One who keeps us in that peace!
The wonderful majesty of the names of Christ doesn't end there. Matthew tells us
that Jesus fulfills the prophecy, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and
shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated
means, "God with us." (Matt. 1:23). John the apostle writes that "..the Word was
God" and that "..the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1, 14)
Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus promised, "..I am with you always, even to
the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20) What a thrill to know that the author of our
salvation is near when we need Him!
Perhaps the most wonderful name He possesses is that which we call Him by,
"Jesus". The name means "God is my salvation" and
was given to Jesus as an infant because "..it is He who will save His people
from their sins." (Matt. 1:21) Without Him and His work on the cross, we would
surely have no hope! So, what's in a name? To the many who are being saved by
the One who wears the name above all names, the answer is "Everything!" Now the
question Jesus asks comes to you, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15).
Well, what do you say?
By Zeke Flores
From Expository Files 11.4, April, 2004
