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COLOSSIANS - Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians
PART 1 - The Foundations of Christian Faith (Colossians 1:1-29)
1. Greeting and introduction (Colossians 1:1-2)
Jesus
The name “Jesus” was not determined and given by men, but was announced by the angel Gabriel (Matt. 1:21a; Luke 1:31a; 2:21). This name means: The Lord (Yahweh) helps, saves and is victorious, just as the angel testified: “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21b). This name, the name which stands above all others, appears 975 times in the New Testament and gives the most important testimony to Him. The name “Jesus” is unique, for in Him lies salvation for all sinners, as well as the power for healing their sicknesses and driving out their demons (Acts 3:6; 4:12; 16, 18 etc.).
The song of Paul´s worship and praise to God in his letter to the Philippians shows the content and the significance of the name Jesus: “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:6-11).
In church history there were continuous arguments pertaining to the nature of the Son of Mary. We confess with the texts of the Bible: “Jesus is true God and true Man!”. Satan and his demons know His name and His holiness (Matt. 4:3,6; 8:29; Mark 3:11; 5:7; Luke 4:3,9,41; 8:28; Acts 19:15 etc.). His friends, as well as His enemies, accepted or rejected His divinity (Matt. 26:63; 27:37,39-43,54; Luke 3:23; 4:22; John 1:14,34,45,49; 3:16; 11:27; 20:31 etc.). God and His angels clearly testified to Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Luke 1:32 35; 3:22; 9:35 etc.). He Himself openly testified seven times (and thirty times indirectly) to His deity (Matt. 28:19b; Mark 14:62; John 3:17, 18, 35, 36; 5:19-29; 6:40; 10:36; 11:4; 14:9b-13, 23; 17:1; Rev. 1:17c, 18; 2:18; 3:21 etc.).
Yet in view of the fanaticism of the Jews, Jesus called Himself more than eighty times “the Son of Man”, whereby He fulfilled the epoch-making promise of Daniel: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14). Jesus confirmed this prophecy in broad fashion, for He often referred to Himself as the Son of Man, rather than the Son of God. He said: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). As a tied and bound defendant He clearly testified to the 70 representatives of His people and to the judges in the Sanhedrin with penetrating judicial authority: “hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Psalm 110:1; Matt. 16:27; 25:31-32; 26:64).
PRAYER: Father in heaven, we worship You, for You named Your only begotten Son “Jesus”, so that we might understand: He helps us, He saves, He is victorious. We thank you that He became man and took all of our trials and problems upon Himself. We believe and thank You that Your Son also saved us from all of our sins.
QUESTION 4: What does the name Jesus mean to you?