There is a Name

[0:00] We're going to talk about the name that's been mentioned very often here this morning. We're going to be talking about there is a name, and there's a name that's above all other names. There's a name that has been given to us. You know, the kids spoke about it during the songs, you know, in our songs in the choir. It was mentioned many times, and that is the name of Jesus. It's a name that connects with many things, and we realize the necessity of that name.

[0:34] But, you know, names do. You know, names identify. Names make a connection. Because names connect us with people. You know, your name is one of the first things given to you when you're a child. You know, when a child is born, you know, there's basically a couple things that somebody asks. The first, if you're a lady, you ask the spec sheet, you know, how tall, how much do they weigh, you know, all the specs of the baby. And then for the guys, you know, it's like, okay, what'd you name them? You know, what's the name? You know, those two are kind of a tough fit for which one's going to be first, usually, you know. But the name is important because the name identifies who the child is. And, you know, a child is named for many reasons. It might be to honor a family member. You know, as a, you know, my name is, I was named for my grandfather and my dad. You know, it kind of has that connection there. Or parents might simply like the way a name sounds or it meets some other criteria. You know, names that people give can be interesting. You know, a name that is given to a child. And in history, though, we find that names carry a greater meaning, especially in the scripture. You know, they had a meaning behind them. You know, you can think about a man called Abram. You know, his name means high father. God later changed his name to Abraham, which means the father of a multitude. And we see those pictures and connections there are Isaac, Abraham's son.

[2:07] Isaac means laughter. You know, and it goes because his mom laughed when God said she was going to have a son in her old age. I mean, names have a connection. Names have a meaning behind them. And even our names today have meaning. You know, they're, I just looked this up here this week. It's interesting how many sites you have that have meanings of names. You know, even names today, most people don't think about what their names might mean. You know, like we have a few guys named Matthew in here. You know, Matthew means gift of God. You know, and you know, you have other names that have been given, you know, like Lewis, you know. Lewis means famous warrior. You know, Daryl, you know, means beloved. Ryan means little king. You know, you go around the room and and your name, you know, it'd be interesting. You know, if you had a chance, look up and see what your name, what is attached to your name?

[3:07] You know, what kind of meaning do people put with that? You know, we have some Joshua's today. You know, Joshua's, that means Jehovah is salvation. You know, this morning we focus on a name of a babe born in Bethlehem of Judea, which was given a name that was divinely selected for him. Now, I want you to understand Jesus was not a name that was just randomly given. Jesus was a name given to that babe that day in Bethlehem for a reason. And it was divinely given to him. And if you found there in Matthew chapter one, let's stand together in honor of the reading of the word of God. And we'll pick up here in Matthew chapter one. And let's, let's start here in verse 18 here this morning as we read Matthew's account here. It says, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together. She was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then

[4:08] Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in the dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted as God with us. And Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord have bidden him, and took him unto him his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus.

[5:05] Let's pray. Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning, Lord, as we just take a few moments, even recognizing the importance of your name, the names given to you. Lord, we pray that as we look at these things here this morning, the name, the very precious name of Jesus, and the importance of Emmanuel, that you are with us and among us. And Lord, we just pray you have your hand upon each one here today. Lord, you know the things that people bring in each week. Lord, we know that life is happening all around us, but Lord, help us to still our minds and our hearts here today, that we might really grab a hold of in our life, one, who you are, and secondly, what that's been done, and Lord, that it might, how do we apply it to our lives. And Lord, we pray that you might work mightily in each heart and life here today. And we just give you all the praise in Jesus' name.

[6:00] Amen. You may be seated. You know, as we think here, when Joseph and Mary were told the name, Jesus, to name baby, the baby that they were going to have Jesus, you know, it was not a name that was out of the ordinary of the day. You know, history tells us there were many of that name, yet the angels brought a divine instruction to him that the name of the child that was to be born unto them, they were to name him Jesus, you know. And when it came to choosing that name, Jesus, you know, when they, you know, oftentimes it's funny, as I've had the opportunity to visit many people in the hospital and visit with them before as they get ready to have a kid, you know, one of the discussions a couple have is, okay, what are we going to name them? You know, and I don't know about you, but sometimes those, well, I want this and I want that, you know, I think this is probably one of the easiest discussions that Joseph and Mary ever had, when they got together and say, well, what are we going to name him? And they both say Jesus. Why? Because they'd had divine instruction from an angel saying, that is what you were to name the child. To do that is probably one of their easiest conversations they ever had as a couple, you know. It was already settled. It was put forth. But, you know, we see here this morning the person of this name of Jesus, because the person, because Jesus wasn't just a figurative individual. Jesus was a real person. Jesus is real as you and I today. You know, oftentimes people, we get loose sight of that reality of who he is. And Jesus in the New Testament is the Greek variant. That name is the same name you'll find in the Old Testament called Joshua. Both of those are together. The meaning of that, we talked about that Jehovah is salvation. It was referring back to who

[7:47] God is. And Jesus was a fitting name, as he would be the one that would bring salvation that was promised by Jehovah. You know, God promised from the very beginning that he would bring a deliverer. He would bring one that would provide for what we needed to be rescued. You know, when we understand that though it was a common name, that it would not have drawn any attention either. You know, oftentimes we don't think about the dynamic that Jesus is really a name that brings and connects with us because it was a common name. There was nothing distinct. There was many people with that name in the days of Jesus.

[8:26] There was many that went by Jesus. It wasn't. That's the reason you find in the scriptures, Jesus of Nazareth. There's a descriptor attached because there was many that were named that. And we see that it gives this attention to us because it's a name that would change everything in the world. And the day that Jesus Christ was born was not a day that would have stood out to those around them. You know, when we think of Jesus, Jesus is a name given to him that connects with us because he connects with the humanity of each of us to understand what he has done and how he has connected with us. You know, the day that Jesus was born was another day that people had problems, another day that people had things going on in life. It was another day just like any other day into the people around them. You know, it wasn't anything special that was drawn to that day out of the ordinary. It was a normal birth as far as Mary was concerned. But the difference was not the birth when it comes to Jesus. The difference was the conception because it says he was born of the Holy

[9:35] God. In other words, it's a divine intervention. And we understand it's a fulfillment of prophecy that we'll look at here in just a little bit. But I want you to understand Jesus was not just any child. He was a unique child in the fact he was fully God and fully human. He was completely that. He was nothing in between. He wasn't 50-50. You know, you know, a lot of people today, you know, things are 50-50. Well, when it comes to Jesus, it's 100-100. He never surrendered who he is.

[10:08] But yet he veiled, the Bible says, he was veiled in flesh. He was just as we are. You know, listen, you know, because the Bible gives us descriptions of that. You might say that John chapter 1 gives us that theological, that deep impression of what who Jesus is. You know, it tells us in John 1-1, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And then you go down to verse 14, it says, the Word was what? Made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory and the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. I want you to understand Jesus is the one that is full of grace and truth. He is fully God, but He's fully human. And I want you understand that it's that way for a reason, because He can connect with you and I. He understands where we are. You know, what a thought that the one that spoke the world into existence would come and dwell among us. That He would physically come, you know, look over in Philippians chapter 2 for a moment.

[11:14] Philippians chapter 2, it tells us this, it says in verse 8, let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. You know, but made of Himself, what? No reputation. In other words, no reputation means Jesus didn't stand out by His own accord. In other words, they couldn't just look at Him and say there was something totally distinct and different. The Bible says that He looked just like anybody else of the day. There was nothing that made Him stand out, but it says it took on Him the form of a servant. You know, here's the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the creator of the universe, and He come as the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found fast as a man, He humbled Himself. In other words, He voluntarily put Himself in this position. Why would He do that? You know, the name Jesus reveals that because we consider that a creator became dependent upon His creation. I mean, you think about how helpless a child is. Here's the very creator of the universe, coming as a babe in the manger, and is now fully dependent on what He created. He's fully dependent upon that in human form, and we see this played out throughout the Scripture, because the instruction to name Him Jesus was not just a random pick, but had a specific in His purpose. You know, look there in Matthew chapter 1, we read there in verse 21, look what the Word of God tells us, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name

[12:55] Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. You know, I want you to see here the purpose of the name. The purpose of the name of Jesus, because it wasn't just random that God told them to name Him that.

[13:12] Even though there was many others of that name, there was something distinct and special of this child. You know, He came as the rescuer of mankind. Oftentimes we hear that, you know, salvation.

[13:29] You know, but you know, salvation simply boils down to this. If you're going to save somebody, it means you're going to rescue them. It means there's a rescue involved. Something you're bringing them from danger or destruction. You're delivering them from what is bearing over them.

[13:48] And when you hear Jesus saves, you know, what comes to mind? You know, oftentimes today, I think people have all sorts of things when they hear the idea that Jesus came as the Savior of the world. Is it a baby in a manger, of which the angels sang and the wise men search?

[14:06] Or do you hear a wonderful purpose for which He came? Because there was a purpose behind it. When we speak Jesus, many things are brought to mind. Because when you talk about Jesus today, people think about many things. Some look at Him as one that came to do good things. I mean, there's a lot of people today promote just and look at the good things that Jesus did. And I want you to understand, Jesus did a lot of good things.

[14:33] But the good things wasn't the focus of why He came. I want you to understand, it wasn't just the good things or the dynamics of healing or helping those in need. You know, sometimes people get caught up and, well, look at how many needs Jesus filled. Yes, He met those needs of people. He can fill your need today. But that's not the reason, the principle, why He came.

[14:59] Because I want you to understand this morning something very critical in our understanding of who Jesus is because we ought to know that He is the primary reason He came as the rescuer.

[15:12] He came as the one that was the deliverer. He was the one that came that was going to provide what we need. You know, verse 21 that we look in our text, notice what He tells them here.

[15:24] He says this, you're going to call His name Jesus for what? For He shall save His people from their sins. He's going to save His people from their sins. And we find here this important dynamic, even in Philippians 2, as it describes the life of Jesus. In the end of verse 8, it tells us this, it says, when He was found being fashioned as a man, He humbled Himself, notice, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. You know, consider why did Jesus voluntarily submit Himself to all the things on this life to die and to be rejected on the cross?

[16:08] Because there was a purpose. That purpose was to be the rescuer for us. The deliverer for us.

[16:21] You know, think about what Isaiah the prophet foretold that he would take upon himself. Isaiah 53, says this, surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. You know, I want you to understand, Jesus, when He comes and He speaks to us, He understands where you are. He understands the sorrows of life. He understands the griefs that come with life. I mean, when we see and read through the Scripture, He understands, yet we esteemed Him stricken and smitten of God and afflicted.

[16:56] Now notice verse 5, but He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. Now I want you to understand, it's important. Why did He come? Because we have a problem that needs to be overcome.

[17:15] A situation that we don't have the means to deal with on our own. You know, you don't need rescued from something that you can get out of. You don't need to be rescued if you can do it on your own.

[17:32] The reason Christ came is we need to be rescued. We need to be rescued from the sin, that transgression and iniquities. Transgressions are what we do outwardly. Iniquities are those things that you process up here. I want you to understand, we're not just sinful because we do sinful things.

[17:53] We're sinful because we have iniquity in our heart. We have sin that brews within us. You don't have to teach sin. Sin comes naturally. You know, I always ask people, you know, if you don't think that sin comes naturally, just go work in the nursery. You don't have to teach a kid to take a toy from somebody else. You don't have to teach them to be selfish. You don't have to teach them as they grow up to try to be put self first. What do you have to teach them? You have to teach them that, hey, the world doesn't focus on you. You know, you have to teach them those things are innate within them and they need to be instructed on it. But I want you to understand it's more than instruction against those things. The reality is, as the Bible says, that the wages of sin is death.

[18:47] But the gift of God is eternal life. Jesus Christ, you'll notice what he says. He says, his stripes, by with his stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. I want you to understand that Jesus took upon himself all that was needed to rescue you and me. He is the rescuer.

[19:17] It's not us. We can't rescue ourselves. Because he came, he was the one that rescued us from the penalty of sin. Because how can he do that? Because he says he took it upon himself.

[19:32] In other words, he took upon himself, he placed upon himself what we were guilty for and paid the price. He said, therefore, I can have victory. In my victory, you can have victory. He left the glory of heaven. The Bible says he humbled himself to identify with those who he came to save.

[19:54] That's the name of Jesus. It's a name that identifies with you and me. A name that understands where we are. Because he didn't come as a king, but as a servant.

[20:09] I mean, you think about the story that we tell of Christ's birth. I mean, there was nothing magnificent about it. A matter of fact, we clean it up quite a bit.

[20:22] I mean, we have kids dress up in cute costumes, you know, and they have the angels and the sheep and, you know, the little shepherds, you know, and everything. But you know what? I want you to understand when you consider the reality of the story, he was born in a stable.

[20:40] A stinky, smelly stable. I don't know about you, but I've been in a lot of barns in my life. And I don't think I've ever been in a barn that smells nice.

[20:53] I want you to understand that Jesus came, he understands where we are.

[21:06] He came and he made a reality of understanding where we are. He came, he was born in a stable filled with animals and all the other fun things that come with it.

[21:18] But you know why he did that? Because it put him on common ground. He was veiled in flesh with his creation. I want you to understand that though Jesus never sinned, he did experience the things that you and I experience.

[21:41] There's a lot of things in life. Have you ever been tired? I mean, I don't know about you, but it don't take long to get tired. The older I get, the more tired I get. Then they want you to go to this thing called retired.

[21:55] That's where I guess you get more tired than you were before. But I want you to understand, Jesus in John 4, 6 talks about being wearied by a journey.

[22:07] Matthew 4, 2 talks about him being hungry. Experiencing things. How about rejection? Rejection. You know, today a lot of people struggle with rejection.

[22:22] Somebody doesn't respond to me the way that I think they ought to respond. You know what that is? That's rejection. That's that feeling of rejection. You know, consider Jesus for a moment.

[22:33] John chapter 1, verse 11 tells us this. It says, He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Think about it this way.

[22:48] Imagine showing up to a family function and telling somebody to meet you at the door and says, You're not welcome. He came unto his own, and his own what?

[23:01] Received him not. Jesus understands what it means to be rejected. The Bible tells us that he understands those things. He was tempted with all that was common to us.

[23:15] You can read in Matthew chapter 4 about his temptation and those things. But he did all this. And what's revealed to us is in Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15 says this.

[23:26] It tells us here in Hebrews, it says, For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Now infirmities is those things that we just talked about. Being tired and weary and hungry.

[23:40] Being rejected. All those elements that are there. Being tempted in all ways. I mean, we understand he knows.

[23:52] But in all points, tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace in the time of need.

[24:04] You know what? Jesus came and he connected with us that we might know that he knows where we are. That he wants to connect with you and I.

[24:17] You know, Matthew also reveals to us that Jesus is the one that also bears a very distinct name. Matthew tells us here in his account this name that we have here is only mentioned three times in Scripture.

[24:31] That's the name Emmanuel. It describes who Jesus is. His name is a name that reveals that it's God with us. Look here in verse 23 in our text.

[24:43] It tells us here this. It says, Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

[24:56] You know, this was spoken by Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 7.14. He says that they're going to call his name Emmanuel. You know, the Lord himself shall give you a sign.

[25:08] You know, when you realize what's happening here, this name makes him qualified to rescue everyone and anyone that will call upon him. Why?

[25:20] Because he is taking the iniquity. He lived the life that we live here. He lived it sinlessly, yet he took our sin and placed them upon himself. It was God with us.

[25:33] He's the only one that could provide the means of rescue. I want you to know that he did this for you.

[25:46] He said you cannot rescue yourself. If we could rescue ourselves, there would be no need for him to have come.

[26:03] But oftentimes we ignore it and say, I'm going to try it myself. I'm going to do it myself. When we realize and finally get to the point where we know that we can't do it ourselves.

[26:25] By our nature, I'm going to do it myself. I can do it. I have the means. And the more you struggle, the deeper you get. Because it's not being dealt with the things that need to be dealt with.

[26:39] This name of Jesus, this name Emmanuel, is the one that qualified him to rescue us.

[26:52] Isaiah 55 and verse 6 says this, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call up him while he is near. Notice what it says. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.

[27:04] And let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God. For he will abundantly pardon. I want you to understand your sin needs dealt with.

[27:15] As anything you have when it comes to a penalty being assessed for something, that penalty has to be dealt with.

[27:29] You either have to pay it yourself or somebody else steps in. When it comes to sin, we either pay it ourselves or let Jesus step in.

[27:43] He says, I am the one that has the means to do so. Jesus is the one qualified to save you. He says this in John chapter 14 and verse 6, Jesus saith unto him, he says, I am the way.

[27:59] Consider that I am the way. You know, we live in a generation where people say there's many ways to God. There's only one way to God.

[28:11] It's exclusive. You know, we try to make it inclusive, but it's exclusive. You're either on the right path or you're not.

[28:25] You know, I've done a lot of traveling through backcountry. If you get on the wrong road, you end up at the wrong destination. You have to make sure you're on the right one.

[28:39] That you're going the right way. And the only way you can do that is to be with Jesus. He says, I am the way, the truth. You know, truth is important. We live in a generation where truth seems to be fluid.

[28:52] They try to make truth as well. It's your truth and my truth. You know, it doesn't really matter what I think is true and what you think is true. The only thing that matters is what is true. Because everything else is a delusion if it's not true.

[29:07] Many today live delusional because they try to live in their own truth. It doesn't make it so. You know, it would be as foolish as saying, I think I'm a millionaire so I'm going to start writing checks accordingly.

[29:23] You know what, it won't be long and somebody's going to come knocking. If they're kind enough to knock. It doesn't matter what I think.

[29:34] The truth is, I'm not. Truth is important. It says, He is the truth. The Word of God is truth. It gives us the focus and the reality of this life.

[29:48] He is the life. He is the one that gives life. Not only initially in His creation, but He gives life to us everlasting for all those who call upon Him. He says, No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.

[30:01] That's pretty exclusive. He didn't say, Choose your path. He said, I am the path. It's the only one and the only way.

[30:13] Because today every person has a sin problem for which they require a rescuer. We can't save ourselves by doing good or just trying to do better. Or giving more or becoming religious.

[30:27] You know, I want you to know today, a therapist can't rescue you from the root problem. You know, today we find many people, Well, go to your therapist.

[30:38] I want to tell you that a therapist isn't going to cure the root problem. A therapist may help you some. But the one thing I've learned a long time ago, if you don't deal with the root problem of something, if you don't deal with the issue at hand, it doesn't solve the problem.

[31:00] The root problem needs to be dealt with. You don't be as foolish as going to the doctor, and the doctor says, You got cancer. You got skin cancer. And you say, Well, I'm okay.

[31:11] I'm putting a band-aid on it. Everybody around you would look at you and say, You're crazy. If you don't deal with the problem, the band-aid is nothing but dressing it up.

[31:23] Oftentimes today, a lot of people try to dress up their sin to say they're doing better. Instead of dealing what needs to be dealt with.

[31:34] Because Jesus said, I didn't come to put a band-aid on it. I came to rescue. I came to deliver. I came to solve the problem. It's only Jesus that's able to do that.

[31:49] Let me illustrate it this way. Because, you know, think about it. Sin drags us down into a pit. You know? The more we wather around in sin, the deeper we get.

[32:02] That pit of life just seems to get deeper and deeper. And as one lies there perishing, you find that there's many who walk by with a lot of advice.

[32:16] You know? The legalist says, looks down at you and says, You shouldn't have fallen into the pit. The religionist said, I can tell you how to get out of that pit and avoid other pits in the future.

[32:31] The pessimist says, You're going to die in that pit. The optimist walks by and says, I have seen worse pits than that. The realist says, You just need to accept your pit.

[32:44] The spiritualist person comes by and says, There is no pit. But I want you to understand, Jesus comes by and says, I'll get you in the pit with you and lift you out.

[33:00] Because when Jesus came as a babe in the manger, He came as one that got in with us, as the one that's going to lift us out.

[33:13] He's the one that provided the way. He's the rescuer. All the other ones were a lot of talk, but Jesus is the one that took the action of what was needed.

[33:26] You know, consider Psalm 40. Psalm 40, the psalmist writes this. It says, I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

[33:44] And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many shall see it in fear and shall trust in the Lord. Jesus is the one that gets in the pit and gets you out.

[33:58] The pit of sin in your life. You can struggle, and people are going to give you all sorts of advice, but I want to tell you that Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. He says, if unless you call upon Me, you'll never be rescued.

[34:18] Because there's a name that's above every name, because of the person and His power to rescue, to save you. You know, this morning, do you know the name of Jesus?

[34:32] Will you call on Him today? Will you thank Him today for all that He's done and provided for you? And I want you to understand here, in just a moment, I'm going to pray, and then I'd ask that you'd consider what has Jesus done for you?

[34:54] And what do you need to do in regard to it? You know, if you have a spiritual need this morning, I invite you to come, and we'll have someone pray with you and share the truth of God's Word with you.

[35:08] Because this morning, there'll be nothing greater than somebody that you rescued from sin. He is the answer to those things. Maybe you just need to come and thank Him.

[35:22] Saying, Lord, I thank You for coming and taking care of what I could not. Thank You for rescuing me. Let's pray. Heavenly Fathers, we come before You this morning.

[35:34] Lord, we just thank You for the day. We thank You for what You've done. We thank You for Your great gift that You've given to us. Lord, we don't even fully understand all the elements involved in it.

[35:47] But Lord, I'm thankful that we don't have to know all the details. We just need to know that You are the One. You're the One that provided a way of salvation. You're the One that made a way for us.

[35:59] If we would just recognize You and to call upon You that You'll be the One that rescues us from sin. Lord, You know each heart here today.

[36:10] There's no hiding from You. And Lord, we pray that Your Spirit would just work upon each heart, each life today. That they might take seriously the need of what You've provided.

[36:24] And Lord, we ask it all in Your precious name. God and Lord that I listen. And Lord, we'll talk a little ill켓.