A NEW NAME
Passover is a time to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through His agony, death, and resurrection we are reconciled to God. It is when we renew our covenant vows by partaking of the blood and body of Jesus Christ. But in that sacrifice, something else happened we do not think about very often.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). From the beginning, the Passover lamb represented the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through that sacrifice, Jesus Christ has a new name: The Lamb of God, spoken in honor and worshipped by all the heavenly host: “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” ” (Revelation 5:11-12).
Jesus’ new name perfectly describes His sacrifice for those who have been forgiven by His sacrifice. The Lamb portrays His innocence, His silence, and the blood and body He poured out in suffering and death. It also proves He is alive because the dead have no need of names. What greater name could God have given the Savior of the world?
Because He lives, our names are now written in heaven and Jesus will profess our names before God: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I [Jesus Christ] will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5).
Have you ever considered such a marvel? Your name, my name, and all who have entered into covenant with God are written, with perfect lettering, on a scroll near God’s throne (Daniel 12:1)! God knows each of our names! Our names were selected from the foundation of the world (Romans 8:29-30; Revelation 17:8)! It is humbling to think of it.
What could be more wonderful? What about having God’s name written on us? “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1). God will write His own perfect and righteous name in us when we are resurrected! What a glorious name it will be that proclaims us to be the beloved children of God! Our surname will be God!
Amazingly, more is yet to come. Not only will Jesus Christ write upon us the name of God, but He will give us HIS name as well: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I [Jesus Christ] will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” (Revelation 3:12).
All God’s children will have the name of God and Jesus Christ, but we are also unique and will receive a new name that only the recipient knows: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesia. To him who overcomes I [Jesus Christ] will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. (Revelation 2:17).
This new name will be honorable and a blessing; one by which others will know who and what we are to God. Abram, Sarai, Jacob, and Paul were given new names in this physical life but everyone will have new names in the Kingdom. As God honored Jesus Christ by giving Him the name of The Lamb, Jesus will honor us by giving us His Father’s name, His name, and each of us a unique, new name! When a child is born, the parents put their names on the birth certificate along with the name they have chosen for the child. On the day of our spiritual birth, God and Jesus Christ will write their names as parents and give us a name they have chosen. What a precious gift!
As scripture says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). Have you ever wondered what your name will be?
May God’s grace and peace be upon you!
Steven Greene
https://sabbathreflections.org