Let's turn to Matthew chapter 1, Matthew's gospel chapter 1, reading very familiar verses. The verse number 18, Matthew chapter 1, and the verse number 18, let's hear God's word. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, and as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. While he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thy son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, and he shall save his people from their sins. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took on to him his wife, and knew her not, till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus. Together, let's seek the Lord. Loving Father, we come now to the preaching of the word. Come and help the preacher, I pray, filling him with the spirit of God, and help everyone to sit and listen and give attention to thy word today. Lord, minister to hearts, rejoice in our Savior, in the name he bears. May as we come to consider that name, Lord, that it will become even more precious to us, for we offer prayer through the Savior's almighty and precious name. Amen and amen. The book of 3 John has a unique claim that sets it apart from every other New Testament book. The book's uniqueness is not down to the fact that it is only one chapter, because there are other New Testament books like Philemon, 2 John, and Jude. These are books that also have only one chapter in their length. It's not down to the fact that there's only 14 verses to 3 John. We would maybe think, well, that's the shortest book. Well, that's not the case, because 2 John is shorter by one verse, it having just 13 verses in length. But out of the 27 books that make up the New Testament scriptures, the book of 3 John is the only New Testament book that does not directly mention the name Jesus. Every other New Testament book mentions the name Jesus at least twice. In fact, the name Jesus appears some 983 times in the New Testament scriptures. It is that sacred name. It is that sublime name. It is that superior name. It is that special name that we want to think upon this afternoon as we continue in our series on the names and the titles of the second person of the Holy Trinity. Having considered already the title Lord on the last occasion, we now come to think upon the name Jesus, for He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ. There are three things I want you to think upon with me this afternoon. As we consider this name Jesus, I want you to consider firstly with me, the name prescribed. The name prescribed. Now when it comes to naming a child, parents take great pains to give the child the name that they deem best for that child. It often is a discussion. It often takes much debate in the home before the arrival of the little one. What will we call the child? How parents choose a family name or a baby name can be as unique as the name given to the baby itself. Some parents, they go down the line of really taking a traditional family name that has been passed down generations. And so you find a son may be named after a father. Or maybe they have at least the father's name. Just like myself, I have my father's first name as my middle name. And oftentimes, it can be a grandparent, it can be an uncle, it can be an individual. This name is passed down generations. Other parents, well, they choose all kinds of crazy names today. Whenever we came to Portland alone, we were introduced to many a strange name, not in the congregation, But in our children's meeting, we could hardly believe some of the names and we would have to try and work out how do you actually spell that particular name. It just seems to be that they pluck a name or they get a few letters into a scrabble bag and they throw them together and pick them out one by one and whatever way the name comes out, well that's going to be the name of the particular child. However, when it comes to the naming of the Christ child, It was the angel of the Lord who would communicate to Joseph the name that he was to call the child of his intended wife. Now Matthew, he recounts that encounter in Matthew chapter 1. Now Joseph is perplexed by the news that his engaged wife, or the wife to which he is engaged to, or the woman to which he is engaged to, has now fallen pregnant. But he was told by the angel not to fear. But to proceed with the marriage. He's also informed in verse 21 that she shall bring forth a son. And so he's told the sex of the child, the gender of the child is going to be a son. And thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. In other words, someone else was going to pick the name of the child. Imagine that happened in your home. Someone came into the maternity ward, the child's there, and they just, as it were, voiced or forced a name onto your child. I'm sure you wouldn't be well pleased. Are you having given a thought and consideration? Well, here the angel of the Lord, he communicates to Joseph that his name was going to be called Jesus. And so Joseph is in no doubt as to who the name of the child is. That same name was also communicated to Mary, the child's mother, by the angel Gabriel at the start of her pregnancy. You turn there to Luke's gospel in the chapter 1 and you'll find the details of that. And so Joseph The earthly father, the guardian, we would say, of the Savior. He's been told to name Jesus. But let's read from the verse 27. Luke chapter 1 and the verse 27. Gabriel is sent to God onto the city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. The angel came on to her and said, Heal, now that are highly favored of the Lord, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at the scene, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. And so from these two accounts, Matthew 1, Luke chapter 1, we come to note that the name that was prescribed to the Son of God was not left to human choice. But the name that was given to the Son of God was divinely given. Was e'er a name like the Savior given? Was e'er a name like the Savior given? God chose the name Jesus for His Son. Like the Son of God, this name came down from heaven. Just like Christ came down from heaven, just like He came down from highest heaven, so too His name came down from highest heaven. Jesus was the divinely given name to the Son of God. It was given by the Father. And because it was divinely given, His name is therefore to be reverenced. His name is therefore to be revered. His name is to be honoured, His name is to be extolled, His name is to be praised, His name is to be proclaimed by all of His creatures. He who bears the name Jesus is to be highly esteemed and to be greatly praised, especially by those who have been redeemed by His precious blood. Do we love His name? Do we love His name? Do we praise His name? Do we esteem His name? Do we hold His name in reverence? Do we rush to defend His name when His name is defamed and maligned by the ungodly? These are the questions that we need to ask ourselves in this service. We're thinking about this name, the name of Jesus Christ. Do we love His name? Do we praise His name? Do we extol His name? The name prescribed. It was a divinely given name. Consider secondly with regard to the name of Jesus Christ. Think about the name defined. The name prescribed, now the name defined. The name Jesus in Greek answers to the name Joshua. Or more particularly, the name Jehoshua, the Hebrew. The Hebrew name is Jehoshua or the name Joshua. It simply means Jehovah shall save. Jehovah shall save. Jehovah shall save and save alone. of all of the glorious titles that the Son of God might have been given, and all of the titles that He is given in Holy Scripture, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Second Man, the Second Adam or the Last Adam, all of these titles, all of these wondrous names, it is this name, it is this name, Jesus, that is prescribed to Him, because this name marks out what the Son of God came to do. This name reveals to us His purpose, His mission, His intention. When He comes to take on flesh as incarnate God, as He comes to tabernacle, dwell among His people, His name is going to reflect His intention, His purpose, His mission to save His people from their sin. And that's what the angel said thou shall call his name jesus for He shall save his people from their sin by his own sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary, and his triumphant resurrection from the grave, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, would save all, would save all who are drawn from their sin to repentance and who, by faith, receive his atoning work. His name, the name of Jesus, reminds us, when it comes to the matter of salvation, But he alone sees to the exclusion of all others. This is what Peter comes to express in Acts chapter 4, the verse 12. He says, neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. And that is placed within the context of Peter speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He refers us back to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And he reminds us that salvation is found in the one who bears the name of Jesus Christ. Salvation. Salvation from sin. is only found in the one who bears the name Jesus. And that is emphasized for us in Matthew chapter 1 verse 21, it forms our text. There is an exclusivity with regard to this statement. Now you don't find it here in the original English. but you do find it in the original language in the Greek. Let me read to you how this verse could be literally translated from the original, and notice that it's the word he. There's where the emphasis is. The Spirit of God places the word He, he places the emphasis on that little word, two-lettered word, the word he. This is how the verse could literally read, thou shalt call his name Jesus for he and he alone. shall save his people from their sin. That's how it is in the original. Otos. Otos is the word. The Lord shall save his people from their sin. He and he alone shall save his people from their sin. Salvation is not found in a church. Salvation is not found in the sacraments. Salvation is not found in you being a good person. Salvation is not found in anything that you can do, but salvation is found exclusively in the person and in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. One old divine said this, there is majesty implied in the name God. There is independent being. implied in the name Jehovah. There is power implied in the name Lord. There is unction implied in the name Christ. There is affinity applied in the name Emmanuel. There is intercession implied in the name Mediator. And there is help implied in the name Advocate. But there is salvation in no other name under heaven but the name of Jesus. The name Jesus alerts us to the fact that He came to save sinners from their sin, not from your misery, though sin brings misery, not from your, as it were, hopelessness, although sin brings hopelessness, not from your despair, though sin brings despair, but he saves us from our sin. That's what he came to do. He came to save us from our sin. I want to ask you, have you been saved from your sin? Have you been saved from your sin? Have you ever called upon his name for salvation? The Bible says, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Have you done that? If not, let me ask you, why not? Are you waiting for some more convenient season? The scripture says, behold now, now is accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation. You're to seek him while he may be found. You're to call upon him while he is near. Why do you wait sinner? Why do you wait? Why do you risk another week? Why do you risk it another day? Why do you risk it another hour? Why do you risk it another moment to live without Christ? He's strange from God. He only inherited from the life of God. Why do you still sit in your sin? Salvation is found in the one who bears the name of Jesus. It's not found in the one who bears the name Mohammed. Salvation isn't found in his name. Salvation isn't found in the name Darwin. Father of evolution, modern evolution. Salvation is not found in Confucius or Plato or even Benedict. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus. Oh, that this day would find you believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. This precious, this glorious name. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name defined, Jehovah shall save. I wonder, has he saved? Or is it still future tense with you? I want him to save me someday. Yes, he shall save me. He shall save me someday. Well, what about today? Why not today? And so we have thought about this name, the name that's prescribed. Divinely given, heaven given, this name of Jesus Christ divinely given. We think of it now defined what it means. He shall save his people from their sin. Jehovah shall save. Let's think about the name quantified. Start to think about a number of things about this name. What qualifications can we make about The name Jesus, what can we say about this name Jesus? What can we say about this name? Can I say in the first place, and sadly I have to say this, but this name of Jesus, it is a profaned name. It's a profaned name. You know, many people in our nation, they have no interest in the name of Jesus Christ, or even the one who bears that name. In actual fact, they employ it as a curse or as an oath. They who have no seething interest in Jesus Christ, they still find the sound of His name a convenient interjection when they're surprised or they find themselves in a state of anger or enrage and so they speak His name. But it is certainly not to exalt His name. Rather, it is used as a profanity. They choose to profane the name of the incarnate God who came to save us from our sins. Maybe that's how you use His name. Maybe that's how you employ the name of Jesus Christ. Maybe it only ever comes out of your mouth as an expletive. If that is the case, I remind you of the words of the moral law. In the third commandment we're told, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Turn on your television, turn on your radio, stand in your factory, go into your school class and you'll find the name of Jesus Christ, the profanity, the profaning of his name. They take his name in vain. A.W. Pink gave this counsel to those who would be tempted to take God's name in vain. He said, this formed the habit of solemnly considering whose name it is you are about to utter, that it is the name of him who is present with you, hearing you pronounce it, who is jealous of his honor, and who will dreadfully avenge himself upon those who slight him. Dare you profane the name of Jesus Christ. Dare you profane the name of the one who keeps you out of hell this very moment, sinner? Dare you blaspheme the name of the one before whom you'll stand before some day and give an account of your life and of every idle word that comes out of your mouth? I say it is utter foolishness on your part. God will not hold you guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. The profaning of his name, it's a profane name. Can I say in the second place, the name of Jesus Christ is a proeminent name or proeminent name. Prominent name. There's one name that has dominated the past 2,000 years of world history. That is the name of Jesus. Few know your name. Even fewer know my name. However, billions of people around the world are acquainted with this prominent name, the name of Jesus. Where are the names of the Roman gladiators? They're forgotten. We might know a number of them. Probably through television programs. We know a number of their names. But you think of all of those Roman gladiators. They were the sporting heroes of the day. They were the poster boys, as it were, of the day. Everyone revered them. Everyone ran after them. They had a cult following. These Roman gladiators. But where are their names today? Could you list me five? The names of past kings and queens and presidents and leaders. All those names, they have been erased from the memories of people. The names of the sporting legends and the film stars, they've been forgotten by the general public. And yet the name of Jesus, the name of Jesus holds prominent sway in the minds and the hearts of many across the globe. You think of that. Think of it. A man, who never ventured far from his homeland, only once to leave as a political refugee for a number of years, number of months, to go into Egypt. The only time he would have left, he would have went over to the other side of the Jordan, but here's a man who never ventured far from his homeland, and yet his name is known in every nation of the world today. Today the prophetic words of the psalmist in Psalm 113 verse 3 have been fulfilled from the rising of the sun until the going down of the sea. The Lord's name is to be praised and it is praise. According to the website site history collection Jesus Christ heads the list of the most influential people of all time. In a list comprising of names like Winston Churchill, Homer, Christopher Columbus, Marie Curie, Julius Caesar, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton, Jesus Christ comes out top. Time magazine places Jesus Christ at the head of their 100 most significant figures in history. There's no doubt that the name of Jesus Christ is a prominent name in this world. His fame has spread far and wide, his influence is universal in his reach, and yet, for some in this meeting, he remains outside your heart and life. Oh, may that sad state of affairs change, because if it doesn't, you'll be shut out of heaven. shut him out of your life and you'll be shut out of heaven shut him out of your life and you'll be shut out of heaven but more tragically you'll be shut into hell shut into hell it's a prominent name but we need to go a step further for the name of jesus is not only a prominent name a familiar name to many many are acquainted with the name but it is a preeminent name that goes but that goes further Yes, a prominent name, a name that's well known, but the name of Jesus Christ is a preeminent name. Writing in Philippians chapter 2, the apostle Paul, he said the following about the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He said, wherefore God hath also highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name. that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven and things on earth, things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He has been given a name that is above every other name. In other words, there is no higher name than His name. It is a name above all other names. In other words, His name stands in splendid isolation it stands alone and it stands above all other names in hebrews 1 verse 4 we read that the son of god hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than even the unfallen angels the holy angels his name is higher his name is more excellent than all of their names question then we need to ask ourselves are these are we are we as those who bear the name of Jesus Christ are we living worthy of his name are we living worthy of his name are we living to make a name for ourselves Or is it our desire to lead others to the one who has been given a name which is above all other names? And since Jesus Christ has been given a name that is above every other name, why then do we give our time and why do we give our energy in praising and worshiping any other name? Why worship? Why praise? Why speak about any other name? The name of your football team? name of your hero why speak of any other name but his name you're speaking about a name that's lesser than his name because his is the preeminent name his is the exalted name and surely if he's been given a name that is above all any other name Then all of our worship and our adoration should go to him and to go to him alone. The uplifting, the exalting of the name of Jesus Christ. This is why we sang our hymns today. Jesus, the very thought of thee. Oh, I wonder, is it true? With sweetness fills my breast. I wonder, is it true? It is a preeminent name. The name of Jesus Christ is something else. The name of Jesus Christ is a powerful name. Michael Bloomberg is a potent name in the financial world. Isaac Newton is a potent name in the scientific world. The Duke of Wellington is a potent name in the military world, but no name is so potent with awe and to lift and to thrill and to bless as the name Jesus. What power there is in his name. Let me be clear. His name is not some kind of magical formula that we employ, but rather it is the one who bears the name of Jesus Christ. It is that which gives power to His name, the eternal Son of God. And in this word and in the scriptures, we find repeatedly of the power that is in the name of Jesus Christ. Can I say, first of all, that the name of Jesus, it made the devils tremble. When they heard his name, they began to cry out, we're told. Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou art, the Holy One of God. At the very mention of his glorious name, the devils feared and trembled. And Wesley put it into his hymn, well, Jesus the name, high over all, in hell or earth or sky, angels and men before it fall, and devils fear and fly. The name. The power in his name, the name of Jesus was the authority by which Christ's disciples cast out devils and cast out sickness. In Luke 10, 17 we read, and the 70 returned again with joy saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name, through thy name. In Acts 3, the lame man at the beautiful gate He positively responded to Peter's declaration, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. He employs that name in the authority. He's saying, of Jesus' name, rise up and walk. This man who had laid at the gate for many a year, and now he's told by Peter to rise up and walk, and what does it say? And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength, and he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping. and praising God. I, in the name of Jesus, has power with God himself. That's why we never pray without using his name. We use his name throughout our praying. We use his name at the end of our praying. We say words such as this in the name, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, amen. And when we pray in Jesus' name, Then we can be assured that whatsoever we shall ask the Father in his name, according to his will, he may give it to us. There's power with God in his name. Mr. Spurgeon said, the name of Jesus is a mighty power in heaven and earth and in the deep places under the earth. There is no part of the universe where the king's name is without influence. The warrant from his throne may be excluded among angels and among devils and certainly And so, thank God, it is a powerful name. It is a permanent name. The name of Jesus, a permanent name. I've already touched on this. people from the past, past pride statesmen, emperors. Those names have been erased from people's minds. Past scientists, forgotten philosophers, theologians, long forgotten. And yet the name of Jesus Christ continues to be revered and remembered today. Though 2,000 years have elapsed since he lived in this world, his name is still familiar to many. That's not the same. That's not true with regard to those who lived in the same time as Jesus Christ. Who was the neighbor of Jesus Christ? What was his name? Well, we don't know it, but we know Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. He lived there. Do we know the name of any other Nazarite? Nathanael. That's about it. But any other? No. All their names. You think about how many people lived in that little town, and every one of their names are forgotten. But Jesus is Jesus of Nazareth. the name of Jesus Christ. Maybe you've picked up an old edition of an encyclopedia and as you flick through and you've looked at all the names, you've maybe thought to yourself, who are these people? You've never heard of them in your life before. People from history. Their names are forgotten. Their names have not endured. In fact, some of the people who'll make the headlines tomorrow, their names will be forgotten in a week. But not so with the name of Jesus Christ. His name endures. His name will endure forever. Psalm 72, 17, we read this about the Messiah's name. His name shall endure forever. His name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed. And long after we are gone and our names are forgotten even by our close relatives, The name of Jesus Christ will endure. What was the name of your great, great grandfather? Do you know it? And you're his relative. You're his relative. But the name of Jesus Christ, it'll endure forever and forever. There is a permanency to his name. The memory of the just is blessed. and who was more just than the just one, the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, the names of our enemies, they'll rot, they'll perish, but the name of Jesus Christ will continue to endure until his glorious and victorious return to earth. As long as the sun will shine, his name shall endure. Hallelujah for that, his name. Let me close with a final quick thought, his name. is a precious name. It's a precious name. The names of our parents are precious. The names of our spouses, husbands, wives, they're precious. The names of our children, they're precious. The names of our siblings, our brothers and sisters, they're precious. But there's no more precious name than the name of Jesus Christ. those who have come to believe in him, Peter says, he is precious, and everything about him is precious. His blood is precious, his person is precious, and his name, his name is precious. H. G. Guinness, not of drink fame, but H. G. Guinness, he wrote these words, all heavens is hidden in the name, and all hopes hang upon it. All heaven is hidden in the name, and all hopes hang upon it. And that is why His name is so precious to us. To those who believe, His name is precious. Hymn writers down through the centuries They've majored on the preciousness of Jesus in their compositions. John Newton, we sang the hymn, How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds in a Believer's Ear. Soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and dries away his fear. Lydia Baxter wrote in the course of her hymn, Take the name of Jesus with you. Precious name, oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Precious name, oh, how sweet. Hope of earth and joy of heaven. E. E. Nichols wrote Precious Name, the name of Jesus, Son of God Most High. who in love to guilty sinners came to die. James G. Dack wrote, Abba, Father, we approach thee in our Savior's precious name. W.C. Martin wrote, the name of Jesus is so sweet. I love its music to repeat. It makes my joys full and complete, the precious name of Jesus. William Hunter wrote, the name dispels my guilty fear, no other name but Jesus. Oh, how my soul delights to hear precious name of Jesus. Is the name of Jesus Christ precious to you? So precious that when it's profaned you rebuke the profaner. When it's dragged through the mud By the unbecoming conduct of some professing Christian, do you mourn? Do you weep? Because their conduct, it tarnishes his name. When it's exalted and uplifted by the preacher, do you rejoice? Do you rejoice today that the name of Jesus Christ has been preached? All have called upon his name. Now I have come to prize that name above all other names. To the Christian, the name of Jesus Christ is, as one person put it, the highest, the brightest, and the noblest of names, the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus, though profaned by many, is nevertheless a prominent name. It's a preeminent name. It's a powerful name. It's a permanent name. It's a precious name. No wonder one old saint of God said, the name of Jesus is honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, joy in the heart. Let all who then love his name, may we live up to his name. bringing only honor and glory to it, and not bringing to His name shame or dishonor, the name of Jesus. Let's bow our heads in prayer together. Oh, how I love the Savior's name. Oh, how I love the Savior's name. Oh, how I love the Savior's name, because he first loved me. We thank thee for the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We thank thee, O God, that his name shall endure While every other name will be forgotten, and those who vaunt themselves against him, and those who dishonor his name presently, while their names will be forgotten, we thank thee that the name of Jesus Christ will endure as long as the sun will shine in the heavens, and forever and forever his name will be praised. By the saints in glory, we think of that name given at his birth, the name Jesus. We think of that name inscribed by Pilate, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews, placed above the Savior's head when he came to die for sin. Jesus Christ placard it. proclaimed from off the cross, Jesus, how precious his name. We thank thee for all that the Savior and the Savior of men did for his people. May we love his name. May we praise his name. May we live up to the name, the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, may, as we take to ourselves the name, of the Savior. O God, may we live up to that which His name means. He saves His people from their sin. O God, save us from our sin, we pray, day by day. May we understand our sinfulness. May we repent of our sin. And if there be one here today who has not called upon the name of Jesus Christ, Today will be the day of their salvation. Answer prayer. We all find salvation in His name. We offer these our petitions through the Savior's precious name, the name of Jesus Christ.