The Name of Jesus
“Every knee will bow to the name of Jesus – everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” Philippians 2:10 (NCV)
A few months back my faith was challenged, in Safeway of all places. I was minding my own business at the checkout when all of a sudden the person in the queue in front of me dropped a can of soup or something and shouted out “JESUS CHRIST!”
The hardcore Christian side of me instantly took over and I said in reply, “It wasn’t His fault that you dropped your can!” The man turned to me and said, “Sorry.” I replied, “It’s OK, God forgives you.”
I had to smile. Hopefully it will make him think a little more next time before using Jesus name as a swear word.
Why is it that people say things like, “Oh, God,” “Jesus Christ,” or “Jesus wept” when something bad happens, not as prayers, but as terms of blasphemy. I wonder what would happen if people started saying things like “Oh, Mohammed” or “For Allah’s sake?” (no insult intended to my Muslim friends, just trying to make a point).
Among other things, we are told in Scripture that in the name of Jesus people can perform miracles (Mark 9:39) are healed (Acts 3:1-16), forgiven (Acts 2:38), released from bondage (Acts 16:18), cleansed (1 Cor.6:11), and know that their prayers are heard and answered (John 14:14). If I were to take the time to go over every aspect of the name of Jesus it would take me a very long time and this Faithblog would make a nice thick book.
It makes me so sad, and sometimes mad, when the name of our Lord and Saviour is used in vain. The Bible tells us that the name of Jesus is so holy that one day every knee in Heaven and earth and under the earth will bow at His name.
A good of this analogy is when a judge enters his courtroom and the bailiff declares, “All rise, the honourable Judge Whatshisname presiding.” You’ve probably seen it in the movies, when the judge enters and those words are spoken the entire courtroom rises to its feet. Similarly, we can imagine that when Jesus enters the final heavenly courtroom where we must all give account for our lives, the angels will cry out, “All bow, the Holy Lord Jesus presiding.”
And whether we like it or not, whether we believe in this life or not, from the greatest to the smallest, strongest to the weakest, we will all bow before Jesus; because “God raised him to the highest place. God made his name greater than every other name so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus – everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord ” Philippians 2:9-11 (NCV)
According to this passage of scripture the name of Jesus is so holy that we will all bow before him one day. Not only that, but we will all declare that He is indeed Lord of all. The way I figure it is like this, when I come face to face with the Lord Jesus as my judge, I would rather bow before Him and declare Him as Lord out of reverence, than out of fear.
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
October, 2008
Image by R. Spears
