THE REVEALED NAME OF JESUS


THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

1 Jn 2:29-3:6; Ps 98:1,3-6; Jn 1:29-34

Behold, the Lamb of God

We celebrate today, the Most Holy Name of Jesus, as a door leading into the mystery of our salvation. The name was revealed by the angel Gabriel at the annunciation to Mary as given by God. Since names are not just mere appellations in Jewish religious tradition but are tied to the identity and mission of the person named, especially when they are given in a religious setting. The name of Jesus is intricately tied to the identity and mission of the Son of Man. Joshua, which is the proper rendering of the Jewish name, is not unique to Jesus, but finds its completion or fulfilment in him. The mission of the Son of Man was prefigured in Joshua, the son of Nun, who led the people of God into the Promised Land. The Son of Man bears the name as the true Joshua, whose mission is to save the people of God all over the world from the bondage of sin and evil. Since only Yahweh saves, which is the meaning of the name Yeshua, short form of ‘Yahweh shua,’ it is proper to the identity of the Son of Man, who is the Incarnation of the Eternal Word. The name ‘Jesus’ means God who saves. Its root is in the divinity of the Son of Man and therefore calls forth our faith in the word of God. Only through faith can we unlock the power of the name of Jesus. Hence, it is written that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth. Phil 2:10.

The name of Jesus gives access to the mystery of the divine will for the salvation of men. Thus, we invoke the full name as Jesus Christ; that is, the anointed Saviour. The anointed signifying the approval of God, who is the Trinity. John the Baptist’s testimony lends credit to the anointing of the Son of Man. “Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.” The knowledge used by the Baptist refers to spiritual and salvific knowledge, not just physical knowledge, since Jesus was his cousin. He attained this deeper spiritual knowledge of Jesus by communion with God in the wilderness. Thus, he confirmed the anointing on Jesus as follows. “I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him.” This vision of the Holy Spirit coming down and resting on Jesus certified him as the anointed Saviour, or Jesus Christ. He therefore confirmed what the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary at the annunciation. “Yes, I have seen, and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.”

The divine power and the authority of the root or foundation of the name are transferred to the shoot or the Son of Man through his total obedience. The name the Baptist called the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, as he approached him, points to this obedience. The name gives us access to the commonwealth that the Incarnation of the Word provided for us. The Son of Man entered the glory of the Godhead through obedience, which is righteousness; we would enter and share the same glory with him only through obedience or following the pattern of his righteousness. Saint John captures this: “You know that God is righteous—then you must recognise that everyone whose life is righteous has been begotten by him.” The Son is like the Father through obedience; the Son of Man wields the authority of the Word through obedience to the Father’s will, and we also would share the divine inheritance through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John says we are already children of God by our obedience to the faith. “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.” We are sons of God in Jesus Christ because of the divine power in the name of Jesus Christ to save us. The name and the power belong to us as we become like him in all things. “Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.” Our purity derives from our obedience to his commandment. Let us sing a new song in praise of God for the wonder of the name of Jesus he has given us.

Let us pray: O God, who founded the salvation of the human race on the Incarnation of your Word, give your peoples the mercy they implore, so that all may know there is no other name to be invoked but the Name of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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