God is faithful and good. God is sovereign. God is our redeemer.
Who has rescued us?
Act four: Rescue, Week 3
As you started the study for week 3 and read the question, "Who has rescued us?" Perhaps you, like an unashamed and eager pre-schooler, yelled out loud, "Jesus!" Or maybe, in your mind, you thought, as most adults do, "Easy answer, simple question—I know this," and whispered, "Jesus."
Jesus, the name above all names, our beautiful Savior, Emanuel! His name is not just the answer to a question; there is so much more to the name of Jesus than what we first learned as a child of the faith. Jesus is given many titles in scripture. Just from the texts this week, we read that His name is Jesus, He is the Son of Man, Immanuel, The Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, King of the Jews, Son of God, The Lamb of God, Each of these titles adds layers of understanding to the question, "Who has rescued us?"
There was a time when saying the name of Jesus out loud was unsettling for me. I couldn't put my finger on the reason why, but I was uncomfortable with hearing my voice say His name. Words to songs like "There is power in the name of Jesus" and "What a beautiful name it is -the name of Jesus" were sung but not 100% believed. I probably even changed the song on the radio to avoid facing the feelings. I wrestled with why, as a believer, His name could be beautiful to so many, but cause me such angst to speak. If I truly believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, why did I feel irritated at speaking out loud the answer to who rescued us? Not to mention, how could I share Him with others and obey the command to share the Gospel if the mention of His name gave me such pause and sadly kept me quiet?
The power in the name is the person behind the name. In biblical times, and still in many cultures today, names meant something. They were more than badges of identification or the answer to a question. They often told others who they were and what purpose God had for their lives. Thus, if we look up the meanings of some names, we will find that Adam was the first man. Eve was the mother of all living things. Abraham was the father of many nations. Benjamin was the son of his father’s right hand. Moses was drawn out of the water. Peter was the rock. Barnabas was the son of encouragement.
What about Jesus? “And you shall call his name Jesus,” the angel told Joseph, “for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Etymologically, the name “Jesus” or “Joshua” derives from Hebrew roots meaning “the Lord is salvation.” He is our salvation. He is who rescued us. He is Jesus, not just a name, not just an answer to the question, not just a good man, but our Savior and our King. This is who He is —the one behind the name. The Scriptures couple God's name (The Lord) and salvation to communicate that the Lord, and He alone, saves his people from Satan's domain of darkness and evil by His sovereign grace, not our own works.
"Therefore God has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-10) That is some significant power! It is no wonder that at the mention of His name, my faithless ears were annoyed. I walked according to the flesh and not the spirit. My heart wasn't bowing down. It was bristling up. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 7:8) Satan was winning the battle because I didn't believe in the power of the sword and the Word that I was holding. Thankfully, wretched women that we are, when we confess our sins (my sin was a lack of faith and true belief in the power of His name), God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins! He really does cleanse us from all that mess! Thanks be to God who always causes us as captives to triumph in Christ Jesus and spread the knowledge of Him everywhere! (2 Corinthians 2:14-emphasis mine)
Today, I can testify that he has rescued me, and in my freedom, with boldness and great joy, I can proclaim the name of Jesus out loud. My heart bows down in surrender, and the song on my lips sings, "Jesus, the name above all names, beautiful, savior, Glorious Lord, Immanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, living Word." without reservation.
Who has rescued us? Jesus. His name is Power and Might. His name brings conviction, washes us with grace and freedom, and wraps us in His love. His name is faithful and good. I challenge you to find any other name that does all that. Sisters, do you have the faith to be vulnerable like preschoolers? Are we unashamed and eager to say "Jesus!"? As an act of worship, shout and sing the name of Jesus out loud, believing in the power His name holds! Call out to Him to win the battle Satan has waged against you. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Meghan
