The Most Holy Name Of JESUS!!!

What’s in a Name?

My name is Bodam, which means “Unique Beauty”

Ayo’s full name is Ayoola which means “Joy of/derived from wealth/a formidable position”

Two names, two different meanings, no particular “significance” right? Wrong! So, what’s so special about the name one is given anyways?

Let’s take a walk down “memory lane”…

In the beginning, what did a name signify? A name signified the nature/essence of the thing being named! And so Adam, in paradise, gave the animals names in accordance with their being.

Among the Jews, God's name expressed His essence, Yahweh (YHWH), means: I (alone) Am Who Am (and cause all else to be). The Jews had the highest respect for the name of God, a reverence that finds continuation in the Our Father: "Hallowed be Thy Name."

Persons who played prominent roles in the history of salvation often received their names from God Himself.

·         Adam — man of the earth;

·         Eve — mother of all the living;

·         Abraham — father of many nations;

·         Peter — the rock.

·         The Savior's precursor, John the Baptist, was given the name God assigned him.

According to divine precedent, then, the name of the Redeemer could not be “accidental”, or of human choosing, but given by God Himself. For His name had to express His mission. We read in Sacred Scripture how the angel Gabriel revealed that name to Mary: "You shall call His name Jesus." And to Joseph the angel not merely revealed the name but explained its meaning: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." The Messiah should not only be the saviour, but should be called Saviour. With Jesus, therefore, the name actually tells the purpose of His existence. This is why we must esteem His name as sacred.

Why Do We Honour The Name Of Jesus?

We give honour to the Name of Jesus because the Name of Jesus reminds us first of all of our salvation and of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. To give thanks for these blessings we revere the Holy Name, as we honour the Passion of Christ by honouring His Cross. At the Holy Name of Jesus, we “cover our heads and we bend our knees”; it is at the head of all our undertakings, as the Emperor Justinian says in his law-book: "In the Name of Our Lord Jesus we begin all our consultations".

The Name of Jesus invoked with confidence:

• Brings help in bodily needs, according to the promise of Christ: "In my name they shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover". (Mark 16:17-18) In the Name of Jesus the Apostles gave strength to the lame (Acts 3:6; 9:34) and life to the dead (Acts 9:40).
  
  
• It gives consolation in spiritual trials. The Name of Jesus reminds the sinner of the prodigal son's father (Luke 15:11 – 32) and of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25 – 37); it recalls to the just the suffering and death of the innocent Lamb of God.

• It protects us against Satan and his wiles, for the Devil fears the Name of Jesus, who has conquered him on the Cross.
  
  
• In the Name of Jesus we obtain every blessing and grace for time and eternity, for Christ has said: "If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it you." (John 16:23)

The most holy name of Jesus produces holy thoughts in us, fills the soul with noble sentiments, strengthens virtue, lets good works bloom, and nourishes pure affections. All nourishment leaves our soul dry, if it contains not that penetrating oil, the name JESUS. When you take up your pen, write the name JESUS: you may make books, but if the name of JESUS is not in them, you are without strength and flavour for me; you may speak, or you may reply, but if the name of JESUS sounds not from your lips, you are without unction and without charm. 

Yes, it must be owned: Jesus is honey in our mouth, light in our eyes and a flame in our heart. This name is the cure for all the ills of the soul.

• Art thou troubled? Think but of Jesus, speak but the name of Jesus, the clouds disperse, and peace descends anew from heaven.
• Hast thou fallen into sin? And doest thou fear the net of death? Invoke the name of Jesus, and soon wilt thou feel life returning.
• No obduracy of the soul, no weakness, no coldness, resists this holy name; no heart is so closed that it is not moved, and opens not in tears, to the name of Christ Jesus.

·         Art thou surrounded by sorrow and danger? Invoke the name of Jesus, and thy fears will vanish. Never yet was human being in urgent need, and on the point of perishing, who invoked this help-giving name, and was not powerfully sustained.

It was given us for the cure of all our ills; it softens the impetuosity of anger, the tire of concupiscence, the movements of pride, the smart of our wounds, the thirst of avarice, the sensual passions, and the desires of low pleasures.

If we call it to our minds, the very name of Jesus brings before us the meekest and humble heart of Jesus, and gives us a new knowledge of the most loving and tender compassion that ever yet was seen. The name of Jesus Christ, the purest and holiest, the noblest and most indulgent of men, of the God-Man, of sanctity itself, the name of all blessings and of all virtues! To think of Jesus is to think of the infinite great God, who, while He has given His life as an example to ours, has also given us the needful understanding and energy, and the assistance necessary to enable us to follow and imitate Him, in our thoughts and inclinations, and in our words and actions.

If the name of Jesus reaches the depths of our heart, it leaves heavenly virtue there. We say, therefore, with the Apostle Paul: If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, (1Cor. 16: 22.)

Show honor to His Name and hold others accountable for His Holy Name.

Our age and culture blasphemes the Holy Name of Jesus. Turn on the TV and you’ll hear “family shows” in which they use Christ’s name in vain. Watch a movie: same thing. Walk on the streets or go to a restaurant. It’s hard for a day to pass without hearing the Holy Name of Jesus taken in vain. And yet Saint Paul said:

“All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Col 3:17).

I hear Christians call the name of “Jesus” in vain. And why do atheists say “Jesus Christ” so often? Doesn’t it bother you to hear so many people say “Jesus Christ” without even a thought to what they’re saying? If they don’t believe in Him or in the power of His Name, why would they even use His Holy name as a curse? Well, blasphemy is the joy of the devils. Satan loves to hear humans blaspheming the Holy Name of their enemy Jesus Christ.

This begs the question: What should we do when people around us blaspheme the name of Jesus?

Blasphemy is serious. It is contrary to the Second Commandment. If done with full knowledge and consent, it is serious sin that will send the soul to Hell. Yet, we laugh at it.

Perhaps we should starting making a silent and public protest if someone blasphemes around us. Decide what works for you. Make the sign of the cross. Do something in reparation. Bow your head and inwardly say a prayer to make reparation for this sin against the loving and merciful Jesus Christ who bled every drop of blood for our sins.

Perhaps one might even confront the person in charity. Maybe they don’t even think about what they are saying. You might say, “Pardon me. Please don’t take this the wrong way. But it’s very offensive to me when you take the name of Jesus in vain. Would you please stop?”

There was a young man who was a high school teacher.  He would often tell his students: “Look I’d rather you drop the F-bomb than to take the name of Jesus in vain. It’s much worse to blaspheme God than it is to say some curse word. That being said, you still don’t have permission to drop the F-bomb!”

We can complain all we want about the culture going to Hell, but it’s not going to get better unless we intervene. Hallowed be thy name. If you pray those words, then be active in preventing His name from being un-hallowed.

Do what you can to bring honour and glory to the Holy Name of Jesus.

If you are also fond of using the name of Jesus Christ without much thought, start making a conscious effort to replace it with another phrase e.g. “Crackers” or “Sugar”… Or better still, turn it into a prayer: “Jesus Christ, I am so frustrated/angry/upset/depressed, please help me!”

Please send us your comments via e-mail, or facebook or on our blog if you have other ideas.

                                                  “And His Name was called JESUS”

(Luke 2:21)

“He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” (Philippians 2:8-10)

Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven; through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honour to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary… The Most Holy Name of JESUS!