Jesus, the Imperishable Name

Jesus—Jehovah the Saviour—the Name given before His birth by the angel to the Virgin’s child (Matt. 1:21), is the Name honoured by perpetual mention under varied forms, throughout the Book of God, from the first revelation of it in grace in the opening of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, to its final celebration of it in glory, in the Book of Revelation. It was the Name enshrined in the promise of the Woman’s Seed. It was embedded in the sacrifice on Moriah, of Abraham’s day. It was foreshadowed in a thousand forms in the types and symbols under the law. It was echoed along the whole line of the prophets.

And at the opening of the New Testament, the honoured Name is uttered over the “child born,” the “Son given” (Isa. 11:6), the Virgin’s babe who lay in the lowly manger at Bethlehem (Luke 2:11, 16). Wondrous indeed it is to find “Jehovah the Saviour” there. God was indeed manifest in flesh. The Word had become flesh, and “tabernacled among us” (John 1:14). And although the world knew it not, angels celebrated the event in the ecstatic joy of heaven. The Lord’s passage through the land of Israel as Saviour, Healer, Deliverer, and Dispenser of God’s salvation in a world of ruined sinners, proclaimed Him “Jehovah the Saviour.” His death on Calvary, and the Name written in shame upon His Cross, was the witness of man’s rejection of Him, while His resurrection from the tomb was heaven’s broad seal of acceptance on His work, and God’s full attestation of His satisfaction from it, and of His well-pleasedness in it.

In the Acts, “Jesus” is preached as “Lord and Christ,” and in His Name remission is held forth to “whosoever beieveth” (Acts 10:43). His Name has the power of salvation (Acts 4:12), which is found in no other name. In the Epistles, the Name of Jesus as Saviour and Lord is “highly exalted,” and His Church here (1 Cor. 12:3) is to bear and honour it in all corporate relations (1 Cor. 4:4) and in all individual service (Col. 3:17). In the Apocalypse, His Name is celebrated in heaven by saints and by angels, and is owned and honoured through all regions of redeemed and renewed creation.

“JESUS” is the imperishable Name, unchanging and unchangeable. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever.” His is the one Name which abides in perpetual bloom and freshness; the unfading Name whose efficacy and virtue can never cease. Time and memory will cause other names, whose praises have been sung, to fade and be forgotten, but eternity will do nothing with the Name of Jesus but celebrate it in realms of glory. Throughout it is “the same Jesus,” Immanuel, God with us, Jehovah the Saviour; the Son in the bosom of the Father, the Sacrifice on the altar, and the Lamb that was slain, glorified above all heavens. His Name and His Person invest His work with an infinite value, and the offices He fills with an abiding dignity. His is the Name of imperishable value, and His the theme of heaven’s eternal songs.

It is in the Name of Jesus that the Divine life is conveyed to the believing soul (John 20:31), that remission of sins is assured (Acts 10:43) and that the prayer of faith receives its answers (John 14:13-14). In the Name of Jesus the mighty works of early days were wrought (Acts 4:10), and that Name has lost nothing of its ancient power. It is the gathering Name (Matt. 18:20) as it is the uniting Name (1 Cor. 1:10) of the church in all ages and throughout all time, and the more simply and closely saints cling to, own, and honour this peerless Name, the closer will they be found to Him, and each other.

Solely Thine own no more, but given

To me, O Christ, Thou now art mine,           

My life, my joy, my hope, my heaven,

And I for ever wholly Thine.

J.Ri.

Article series: Our Glorious Lord