The Highest Name by ems 12/19/21
23rd Day of Advent
Week 4: Love (or adoration) ~ Light 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle
Advent Hymn 🎼 Hark The Herald Angels Sing 🎶
In 1739 Charles Wesley wrote the text to this hymn as “Hark, How All The Welkin Rings” – welkin was an old English word for the expanse of the heavens and was used to reflect Heaven’s response to God. However, in 1758 George Whitfield changed “welkin” to herald angels changing the meaning to humanity’s response to God’s redemption. The first tune was to be the same as “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today,” for it was meant to be sung at Easter. Because Wesley believed the birth and the resurrection to be of equal importance, he intended both to be sung using the same tune. Felix Mendelssohn wrote the tune we use today in 1840. In 1965 the Peanuts characters’ special A Charlie Brown Christmas climaxed with Hark The Herald Angels Sing.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th’ angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of peace
Hail! the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all he brings
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the some of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th’ angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
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20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). ~ Matthew 1:20-23
The Highest Name by ems 12/19/21
Before a child is born, the parents decide what name to give their precious treasure. The name’s significance may reflect family history or a desire for what they hope the child may become. The angel Gabriel revealed Jesus’ name to Mary (Luke 1:30-31) and then to Joseph (Matthew 1:20-21) because “He will save His people from their sins.” So, naming him was not their privilege because God had an eternal heritage in mind.
The ancient Greek name Jesus is the same as the Old Testament name Joshua which is Hebrew or Aramaic; a widespread name in that period yet with decisive significance. It means “God is deliverance.”
Matthew quotes Isaiah, saying Jesus will be known as “Immanuel, God with us.” However, during His 33 years on earth, Jesus was known by other names:
The Son of Man (Mark’s gospel), The Son of God (Matthew’s gospel), the One and only Son (Luke), and John, the beloved disciple, gave 15 names for Jesus, each revealing more about who He is.
In John’s gospel, he calls Jesus:
God (John 1:1), The Word (logos in Greek, John 1:14), The Lamb of God (1:29), Messiah (1:41), The Bridegroom (3:29), The Living Water (4:10), The Saviour of the world (4:42), The Prophet (6:14), The Bread of Life (6:35), The Light of the world (8:12), The Door (10:9), The Good Shepherd (10:11), The Resurrection and the Life (11:25), The Way, The Truth, and The Life (14:6), and The True Vine (15:1).
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, tells us why Jesus’ name is exalted above every other name:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2: 5-11
Because Jesus emptied Himself and became a servant, God the Father gave Him the right to the Highest Name of all.
Imagine that! The King of kings chose to be a servant.
Serving was something Jesus undoubtedly cultivated throughout His early years and up to adulthood. “God with us” served from the heart because He knew there was more to this life. He didn’t command adoration (although He certainly deserved this!) yet yielded His life to save us from the penalty of sin. He knew that by humbling Himself, the Father would lift Him up one day, and in the future, every knee would give Him the honour due to His Name.
What a mighty, beautiful, incredible, and incomparable name.
I’m so glad He had those titles and lived them out among us when He moved into the neighborhood.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You revealed to us how great Your Son is and displayed what You are like. Make me more like You, willing to serve, quick to humble myself, seeking only Your praise.
I look forward to the day when everyone will acknowledge Jesus as their Saviour. Thank You, Jesus, for being true to every name given to You.
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The Shepherd: A Story of the First Christmas
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Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night
https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479?language=en
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