When I was a boy at school, I had to learn a great many stories about kings and mighty men of this earth. Their names are to be found in history and geography books; boys and girls are still learning and memorizing the stories of David Livingstone, Napoleon Bonaparte, George Washington, and many others.
Although these names are well known in the world today, there is one name which is above every other name. Many years ago there was born in the little town of Bethlehem, a wonderful baby to whom there was given the precious name of Jesus. The Word of God tells us in the first chapter of Matthew, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” All the hosts of heaven rejoiced at the birth of this wonderful babe, and we all know the story of the shepherds and the wise men who came to visit Him. He was not an ordinary babe, for He was God’s eternal Son — perfect God, and perfect man. Is it not strange that as we read farther in the story of this precious One who came to be the Saviour, we find that the very ones whom He loved so dearly refused to accept Him. We see His enemies take the blessed hands, which had done so much good, and nail them to the cross. We see them take His feet, which had walked so many weary miles in blessing, and nail them to the cross. And then, we see them nail above His head His accusation written: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.”
How very sad it is to see that they took the very name of Jesus, which was given to Him at His birth, and nailed it over His cross as the only accusation which they could find against Him. If this were the end of the story it would be sad indeed. Just think that the only good man who ever lived in this world, the One whom the Father sent to be the Saviour of the world, was put to death with His precious name nailed above His head. But the glorious truth is that the One who was nailed to the cross and put to death has risen again. And now read in Philippians 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 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.”
I am sure that many of the boys and girls who read Messages of the Love of God have learned in school about the mighty and noble men of this world, and I believe too that you have heard long before this the wondrous story of the Lord Jesus Christ. But I want to ask you if the name of Jesus is precious to your heart? Is He your Saviour? Only think of the cross where they nailed Him, and think of His blessed name nailed above His head, and then ask yourself, “Have I accepted this precious Saviour as my own?”
ML 12/23/1956