[ ] 12/11/05 #635
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Matthew 1:21
INTRODUCTION: The angel Gabriel was sent by God to the virgin Mary. He announced to her that she would
be the mother of God’s Son. His name would be called “Jesus.” No one has caused as much controversy in
history as Jesus. He is loved by His followers and hated by His enemies. The name of Jesus is the sweetest name
spoken by mortal man and the most fearful name in all the universe.
I. HEAVENLY NAME
A. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NAME. (Luke 1:26; 2:21)
B. APPROPRIATENESS OF THE NAME. “Jehovah is salvation”
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
C. AUTHORITY OF THE NAME.
1. Authority over demons.
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through thy name.”
(Luke 10:17)
2. Authority over sickness.
“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but, such as I have , give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)
3. Authority to forgive sin.
“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the
Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43)
II. HONORED NAME
A. EXALTED NAME.
1. Exalted by the Father. (Phil. 2:9-11)
“Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)
2. Exalted by the angels. (Luke 2:13-14; Heb.1:6; Rev. 5:11)
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders, and the
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, Saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory,
and blessing. (Rev. 5:11-12)
3. Exalted by the redeemed.
“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small
and great. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the
voice of mighty thunderings, saying Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
(Rev. 19:5-6)
B. EXCLUSIVE NAME.
“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(Rom. 10:13)
III. HATED NAME
A. EXAMPLE OF HATERS.
1. Herod. (Matt. 3:16-18)
2. Religious leaders.(Matt. 27:20-23)
3. World. (John 15:18)
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18)
“In Council Bluffs, Iowa, a federal court awarded teacher Milton Abramson $300 for suffering ‘emotional
distress’ – he was exposed to prayers during Easter and Christmas assemblies during Thomas Jefferson High
School. Abramson sought $6,000, but the court said his injuries were of only a ‘short duration.’”
Judge Samuel Kent from Texas, “ruled that if American students prayed in the name of Jesus, they would be
sentenced to a six-month jail term.”
“In Omaha, Nebraska, a student was prohibited from reading his Bible silently during his free time, or even to
open his Bible at school.”
“A Frederick County, Maryland, school employee was prohibited from handing out Christmas cards on a publicschool campus.”
“Red poinsettias were banned from the Ramsey Court House in St. Paul, Minnesota, because they offended one
person who believes the flowers to be a symbol of Christianity.”
“In Worthington, Ohio, students were prohibited from bringing in Christmas cookies with the colors red and
green or in the shapes of stars and bells.”
B. EXPOSING OF THE HATERS.
“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:19-20)
“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that
hateth me hateth my Father also.” (John 15:22-23)
C. ERROR OF THE HATERS.
“They hated me without a cause.” (John 15:25)
“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head; they that would destroy me, being mine
enemies wrongfully, are mighty. (Ps. 69:4; 35:19)
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)
“And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is not sin.” (1 John 3:5)
John MacArthur: “Here’s a side to the Christmas story that isn’t often told: those soft little hands, fashioned by
the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them. Those baby feet, pink
and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross. That sweet infant’s head with
sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto it. That
tender body, warm and soft, wrapped in swaddling clothes, would one day be ripped open by a spear. Jesus was
born to die.”
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. The mention of the name Jesus brings hope to the sinner; “for there is no other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved.”
2. The name Jesus opens the door of heaven so the saints of God can come “to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
3. The name of Jesus brings comfort to those who sorrow and strength to those who are suffering.
THERE IS A NAME I LOVE TO HEAR
There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear, The sweet-est name on earth.
It tells me of a Saviour’s love, Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea.
Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me.