YHWH Saves
The Name of JESUS
Luke 2:21
December 31, 2024
“Whatever a man undertakes in his own name, must terminate in his disgrace” [Henry Müller]. What have you undertaken in your own name this past year? What did you set out to do, only to fail? What did you do out of personal aspiration, to bring glory to your name?
Consider the attempt in the primitive world to build a tower. It seems a small thing to bring such judgment. But why was the building of the tower of Babel undertaken? “They said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves’” [Gen. 11:4]. Compare this with godly Noah, who upon leaving the ark built an altar to to God’s Name, to YHWH. Seth also, the third son of Adam, taught his son Enosh “to call on the name of the LORD” [Gen. 4:26].
“Whatever a man undertakes in his own name, must terminate in his disgrace.”
Now look back on the secular year coming to a close. Has this been your pattern – to do everything calling on the name of the Lord?
Do you not see your own peril, that the power of your own sinful flesh will rule you unless it is brought under subjection to the Name? And Satan comes against you, “in battle array like Goliath” [Müller]. How did David meet the giant? He said, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you” [1 Sam. 17:45f]. This David had fought with wild animals, and vanquished them, killing lion and bear. But he goes out not in his own name, not in his own strength, not in his own power. He goes out in the Name of the LORD, the Name YHWH.
This is the name put on the infant Child of Mary. Jesus comes from two Hebrew words, YHWH and salvation. So the name means “YHWH is salvation” or “YHWH saves.” Now this name shows up in the Old Testament. The assistant to Moses was named Hoshea, which just means “salvation.” But when Moses sends him as one of the spies into the land of Canaan, Moses changes his name to Joshua, or as we would say it in our language, Jesus. The point is that it is the power of the name of the LORD that brings salvation, not his own cunning, skill, or prowess. And among those spies, only this man and Caleb were permitted to enter the land. Not even Moses was given entrance.
This is the Name given to the Child of Mary, for He saves from sin and gives entrance into the greater kingdom still to come.
“The name of Jesus heals the afflicted in mind, puts to flight the spirits of darkness, and to the sick is an ever present remedy.”
This Name has great power, because the One who bears it has vanquished the devil, made atonement for our sins, and defeated death. And this is the Name placed on you when you were baptized. When the name is stamped upon you, you receive its power, you receive its protection. One ancient Christian said, “The name of Jesus heals the afflicted in mind, puts to flight the spirits of darkness, and to the sick is an ever present remedy” [Origen, ACCS].
By this name you have access to the Father. By this name the demons must flee. By this name every slander is wiped away. By this name your sins are blotted out.
On the cusp of a new year, recall all the things done in your own name. Recall them, repudiate them, repent. Turn away from the glory and shame of your own name, and embrace the name of Jesus. Call upon it in every trouble. Put it on in everything you do. Let the name of Jesus be on your lips first thing when you arise, and last thing before you sleep.
And in this new year, let this name be your refuge in every time of distress. Let this name be your praise in every good time. Here is how Johann Gerhard reflected on the sacred name:
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.
Lord Jesus! By Your Name, pardon our folly, and the sins of this past year. Let Your holy Name guide and govern us in this new year. +INJ+