The Promised MessiahMfano

Name above Every Name

Read: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18–25; Philippians 2:6–11

SOAP: Philippians 2:8–11

He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Into the Text

God promised to send a Messiah who would be recognized by His name. Isaiah prophesied that this Messiah would be righteous and from the line of David, bringing light and peace to God’s people. This Messiah would also be born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit because He is God incarnate.

The Messiah would be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” Jesus’ name means “Yahweh is salvation,” or “Yahweh saves.” God showed His intent to dwell with humanity and take on humanity in order to save us from sin.

When Jesus left the glories of heaven to come into our broken world, He emptied Himself. Not of His divinity, but of His divine privileges as God. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, was willing to take on human nature, entering into all the pain, frustrations, and afflictions of our fallen world. He humbled Himself by submitting to the Father’s will.

Jesus’ obedience went beyond living as a human, even to the point of His gruesome death. He was humiliated and hated, murdered by the very people He came to save. Yet, because of that, God has highly exalted Him.

Jesus’ name is exalted above every other name. One day, every person, whether they believed in Him while alive or not, will bow before Him. Every person will recognize and declare that He is Lord. His name is exalted and will be exalted for all eternity because He is the God who saves. He is God with us.

What an incredible God we serve! He was willing to humble Himself completely to save us. He left His place in heaven so that we could have a relationship with Him. He gave everything so we could gain everything. His name is forever exalted, forever worthy of our praise.