Jesus

We might sing How sweet the name of Jesus sounds, but how sweet is the name of Jesus to us?

He could have been called Jo Davidson - Jo after His adoptive father and Davidson because He was a descendant of King David. But "Jesus" was chosen deliberately. See Luke 1:31 and 2:21. Names in the Bible are significant. If parents saw a red headed baby born they might call him "Red Head". If a father had hopes for his son that he would be a prophet he might call him "Prophet". The name of Jesus was significant. It means Yah (the LORD) saves. See Matthew 1:21.

So we are reminded by the name of Jesus that He came to rescue rebels against God - to save sinners, by giving His life - a sacrifice - at the cross. This is the theme of the Bible from the beginning. We see Adam's rebellion against God and the consequent shame. He tried to hide and to cover himself with fig leaves, but God gave Adam and Eve animal skin for clothes, indicating that guilt could only be covered by the sacrifice of a life. In Genesis 4 we see that Cain offering to God the fruit of the field (what came easily to him) was not acceptable. Abel brought what was required: a lamb. This, with all the Old Testament animal sacrifices, looked forward to the Lamb of God sacrificed at Calvary - the only Saviour.

Many people are not impressed at all by these things because they have little awareness of any need to be rescued. If we say that Jesus saves, quips are made about piggy money boxes. Sin and rebellion against God are something that others do - this world's Hitlers. Our own imperfections are a small thing that needs no "rescue" operation. People do not see their true condition and danger. This position may be likened to the many holiday makers who each year get trapped between bays on the Cornish coast. They walk from one bay to another at low tide and stop en route to bathe in the sun. They do not realise that they cannot afford to linger. The tide will come in and trap them. They lie on the sand oblivious of the danger. We might imagine one man getting trapped, with great waves threatening to beat him against the rocks. The sea rescue helicopter comes over and notices him. From the craft a rope is let down and a voice calls out "Hold on. I'll hoist you up." The sunbather takes no notice. So eventually the man in the helicopter comes down the rope and offers the man a hand to rescue him. He insists that he'll be OK without any help. This is what Jesus has done: He has come down to this scene of danger to save from sin, but men don't realise their need of Him and so decline His offer.

But if you see your need of a Saviour here are two important points to be noted:

1. Jesus saves - NOTHING ELSE will do so. See John 14:6 and Acts 4:12. There are many toothpastes - all do the job - more or less! But religions are not all the same. Every religion says "You do this and you will be safe." But Christ says "I have done this so that you can be safe." Most people assume that you get right standing with God by doing good things. That would only work if you could be perfect, but we know that we simply cannot. The way promoted by all the religions in the world will not work. Only Jesus actually does what is necessary for us.

2. Jesus saves - NOTHING MORE is needed. There is a common tendency to want Jesus plus something else. In Galatians Paul confronts the teaching that it is Jesus plus circumcision. We are more likely to have the idea that we have to earn or deserve what Jesus has given us. But on the cross Christ cried "It is finished" by which He meant that salvation was accomplished and completed. To add to what Christ has done implies that it is incomplete. If the farmer takes a delivery of a gate for his field and then takes an axe to it saying that he is going to make his contribution to the makers workmanship, the joiner will protest and say "You'll wreck my work! It's already finished. You don't need to do anything to it. Just use it!"

Of course, all this does not mean that it does not matter how we live, but simply that we cannot contribute to our salvation. Jesus saves and nothing else and nothing more.

Where do you stand with regard to these things? If you were to die tonight and appear before the pearly gates and St Peter were there to challenge you: "Why should I let you into this heaven?" What would be your reply? Many would say "I've done my best", "I was better than many others", and so on. You'll never get in with this kind of appeal. There is only one reply that will satisfy at heaven's door: "Jesus died to save me."