Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names [. . .]
(Philippians 2:9)
So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.” (John 5:19–29 NLT)
Think of the impact our names have. Parents will spend time and effort in considering what name their precious child will have. This will be a name that goes with them the rest of their lives. In the Bible, a person’s name often expressed a wish or promise for that child. A name could also be given to a person to identify a new stage of life. Philippians 2:9 tells us that the willing submission and sacrificial obedience of Jesus will be reflected in God elevating Jesus to the highest place of honor. This place of honor comes with a name that is above every other name. It is the name that speaks to the transformation we have in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
In John 5, Jesus does an extraordinary thing. He heals a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. The Jewish leaders were not focused on this. They were shocked Jesus would heal on the Sabbath. They were also outraged when Jesus referred to God as “My Father” while describing this healing.
Jesus knew this physical healing was just a part of everything he came to do. In verses 19-29, he speaks about the healing that is not just of physical ailments but the healing that will come in the forgiveness of sins.
Sin is one thing common to the people of all nations and all time. The healing Jesus offers comes with the promise of eternal life. It also comes with the promise of a surrendered earthly life lived in loving obedience to the Lordship of Jesus. This is the healing Jesus offers to all of us. He was fully aware of the coming pain and heartache, as on the cross he would bear the sins of men and women, your sins and my sins.
Jesus also knew this was God’s plan. Remember, in Matthew 1:21, Joseph was directed to give Mary’s baby the name Jesus because “he will save his people from their sins.”
It is in Jesus’s name, as our Savior and Lord, that we can place Philippians 2:9 over the verses that are found in Psalm 145:8-19. This passage speaks about knowing the goodness of God’s presence in our lives, seeing the greatness, power, and grace of God’s working for his people. It is in the name of the Lord Jesus that we experience this. It is in Lord Jesus that we dwell in his presence and experience his rescue in the needs of each day and each moment.
Read Psalm 145:8–19 and consider what Jesus has done in your life. Take time to praise God for the name above every name and how this name has brought the blessing of new life to you. Consider how you can live out the name of Lord Jesus as you walk the journey of life.
Dr. Harry Kelm is the executive director of the North American Baptist Conference.