The name of the Son of God is Jesus, and His official title is Christ. As Christ He fulfils the roles of prophet, priest and king. He has also a wonderful name known only to God.
The angel of the Lord said to Joseph of the Son of God: thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matt 1:21) We need to be delivered from both the power and the penalty of sin. As I have previously discussed deliverance from the power of sin, when I discussed the name YAHWEY TSIDKENU, here I will discuss deliverance from the penalty of sin.
Of the battle between Satan and Christ at the cross, it was prophesied: it (Christ) shall bruise thy (Satan’s) head, and thou (Satan) shall bruise his (Christ’s) heel. (Gen 3:15) Jesus said of the work of the cross: now shall the prince of this world (Satan) be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. (John 12:31-33) Although the KJV has added the word men after all, Christ was probably referring to all the hosts of darkness, the demons, that would be drawn to attack Him upon the cross.
To save us from Satan’s power involved Christ paying a terrible price. He said: Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (John 12:27) As the time of the cross drew near, sorrow overwhelmed Him, and He said: My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. (Matt 26:38) He even prayed to His Father: Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me . . . And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:42-44) It takes a terrible type of fear to induce such sweat. But Christ went forward to the cross: and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matt 26:42)
What was it of the cross that Jesus feared so much? A literal translation of Isaiah 53:4 says: Surely he has borne our sicknesses. Upon the cross Satan smote Jesus with a plurality of terrible sicknesses in extremity.
Psalm 22 describes Jesus’ despair upon the cross. He says: all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death . . . the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:14-16)
His fears are evident when he says: Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth. (Psalm 22:20,21)
But Christ endured so: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. (Heb 2:14) Now Satan no longer has the power of death. But Christ says: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hades and of death. (Rev 1:18) Jesus, who now has the keys of death, releases from its power all who trust in him. He says: If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:52)
Why did Christ endure the cross? It was for the sake of love. He loved us saying: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. (John 15:9); and: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) He loved the Father, saying of His battle with the prince of darkness: that the world may know that I love the Father. (John 14:31) And it was because the Father loved us. Jesus said: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. (John 3:16) God so loved us that He even loved His Son for laying down His life for us. (John 10:17)
Christ in Greek means ‘Anointed’, the same as does ‘Messiah’ in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, kings were anointed with oil. But the Father: God anointed Jesus of Nazereth with the Holy Ghost and with power. (Acts 10:38) Jesus was anointed to be Priest, Prophet and King.
We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. (Heb 4:14) His role as a priest is to mediate between God and man, that we may be forgiven.
Although the atonement for us was made at Calvary, it only avails for us if we are identified with that work. This identification is the role of a high priest. And so John writes: if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1) While Satan is accusing us before God, Jesus Christ is defending us.
Because God the Father ordained a learning experience for His Son, He is sympathetic. It is written: we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15) Therefore, if we fail, we can: come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)
God promised that He would raise up a great prophet, saying to Moses: I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deut 18:18) This prophet is Jesus Christ.
Christ clarified much of the Old Testament, and spoke of the importance of keeping the spirit of the commandments, not only the letter. In particular He delineated God’s standards. Christ’s words also comfort our soul and strengthen our heart.
And of Christ’s parables it is written: I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Matt 13:35) Jesus also spoke much of eternity, which before His prophecy was much of a mystery.
It is easy to take for granted what we have learned from Jesus’ prophecies, as also it is of what we have learned from all the Scriptures. But Jesus said to His disciples: blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Matt 13:16,17)
The angel told Mary of Jesus: the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. (Luke 1:32) David was king of Israel, but Jesus shall reign not only over Israel, but over all the earth. God said to Christ: I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8)
During the millennium when Christ begins to reign, Israel shall be chief among the nations. This is why Christ’s throne shall be in Jerusalem, upon the hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6) But that He rules over all kingdoms of the earth is evident in that when He returns to earth: he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev 19:16) It is also written that: on his head were many crowns. (Rev 19:12)
There will be a hierarchy in the kingdom. Faithful Christians shall be: made . . . kings and priests, (Rev 1:6) with Christ saying to them: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev 3:21)
Evil will not be tolerated amongst those whom Christ, with His faithful saints, shall reign over, but during the millennium, Christ shall: break them with a rod of iron and shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psalm 2:9) But Christ’s judgement will be just: he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor. (Isaiah 11:3,4)
But to those of the nations who are not rebellious, life will be safe: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6) And life also shall be good for them, especially those of Israel. God says: I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isaiah 65:19)
And God says: They shall not build, and another inhabit . . . for as the days of a tree (perhaps a thousand years) are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (Isaiah 65:22) This is speaking not of overcoming Christians, but of those who were kind to such, unto whom Christ, when He returns, says: Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matt 25:34)
Christ is now awaiting the preparation of the kingdom, with God the Father saying to Him: Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1) Christ is still working, but now from a position enthroned in glory. He has finished His arduous work on earth. And Christ has been given all power, not only on earth, but also in heaven. (Matt 28:8)
Jesus commands the angels, God saying to them: let all the angels of God worship him. (Heb 1:6) Both angels and men are included in God’s plan: to gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. (Eph 1:10)
In accord with this plan: God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name . . . that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11)
When Christ returns He will have: a name written, that no man knew, but he himself . . . and his name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:12,13) Words are an expression of one’s self and so Christ being called the Word of God implies that Christ’s nature is an expression of God’s nature. But exactly what that word is, that expresses God’s nature and Christ’s nature, we do not know yet.
In the bible names usually had a meaning, as of the sons of Jacob. (Gen 29:31-30:24, 35:18 bible notes) When Manoah, Samson’s father asked the name of the Angel, who must have been the Lord Jesus Christ, he answered: Why asketh thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? (or Wonderful according to the KJV notes) (Judges 13:18) It is written of the Lord Jesus Christ: his name shall be called Wonderful. (Isaiah 9:6)
Perhaps in the next life we shall learn what that wonderful word is, that expresses Christ’s nature and glory, that wonderful truth which the armies that fight against him never learn.