All Saints Day, 2021
Devotion for the week
The sacred and glorious name of Jesus.
There can be no doubt in the mind of any Christian about the wonderful Name of Jesus. We know from the scriptures that in Hebrew the name “Jesus” means “saviour” or more precisely “God saves”. The exact meaning is given by the Angel of the Lord who appeared to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly step father, when he said to Joseph-
“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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:20,21
Therefore He is named Jesus, by God Himself, because He is the Saviour of the world.
But what does He save us from? He saves us from our sins.
In fact, we are told in the scriptures that
“…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
It is worthy of note that the Bible says that Jesus will save us from our sins, not just one sin, but all of them. Every condition of sin, every kind of sin, whether past or present. Even the sins we will commit in the future. But there is a condition- we must repent of them. That is, simply put, to turn our backs on our sins, to walk away from them and vow to never commit them again. We are told very clearly in the Bible that “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) which tells that the blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse us through and through- to our deepest core. Our entire heart and soul can be cleansed and the stain of sin washed away by the sanctifying power of the blood of He who holds the highest and most precious name above all names. St John further emphasises this when he states two verses later
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
When we confess our sins, honestly and from the deepest place in our hearts, there is no sin that is not cleansed and we are freed from their power and set right with God. Those who fiercely oppose God, who blaspheme against Him and who remain in their sins without repentance, who do not turn from their sins and in faith ask for mercy and forgiveness in the wonderful name of Jesus retain their sins, and ultimately, if they remain in that state, suffer for their sins in eternity. (see Matt. 10:28; 12:31,32; 25:46; Ez. 18:20; Rev. 21:8)
But our merciful and gracious God does not want anyone to perish for their sins (2 Peter 3:9). He wants all to come and receive the gift of salvation given through His Son, whose very name tells us that He will save us from our sins. All are loved by God (John 3:16) and Jesus has given His life for all (1 John 2:2) and therefore every human can confidently say that Jesus died for their sins. He will not turn away anyone who asks Him for forgiveness and His promise to free us from the burden and punishment of our sins is true, faithful and trustworthy.
Pondering these thoughts, we can pray with great theologian and pastor Johannes Gerhard (1582-1637) who said:
How sweet and delightful is the name of Jesus! For what is Jesus but Saviour? And what real harm can befall the saved? What beyond salvation can we either seek or expect? Receive me, O Lord Jesus, into the number of Thy children, so that with them I may praise Thy holy and saving name. If through my sin I have lost my original innocence, have I deprived Thee of Thy mercy? If I have miserably destroyed and condemned, yet canst Thou not compassionately save me?
And
I am sinful, reprobate, condemned; but in Thy holy name there is righteousness, election, salvation; but in Thy name was I baptized; in Thy name do I believe; in Thy name will I die; in Thy name will I rise again, and in Thy blessed name will I appear at the judgment. In Thy name every conceivable good is provided for my soul, and stored up in reserve as a sacred treasury.
(From Sacred Meditations, IV)
Amen!
+ Rev Harris