Last week, we learnt that that men are either born to a great name, make their name great by achievements, or have great name conferred on them. The name Jesus came by all three means.
The name Jesus is great because he inherited a great name. His name is great because of his achievements. His name is great because it was conferred on him. However, in this piece, we will study how Jesus inherited a great name.
Scriptures declare…”he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name” (Hebrews1:4).
An inheritance is that which is transmitted from a progenitor to a progeny or something that may legally be transmitted to an heir: “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2).
A query that many church folks are posed with today, but which many have failed to provide answer to is: when exactly did Jesus inherit a more excellent name?
Some have opined that He inherited the name when he was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). But this is far from the truth.
The birth at Bethlehem was when He [The same that was in the beginning with God (John1:2)] took upon him flesh… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John1:14).
Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, gives credence to this assertion, saying, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me (Hebrew 10:5).
English Standard Rendering says, “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me.”
Thus, in Bethlehem, He took upon him flesh or the body that was prepared for him. For what purpose? Hebrew 2:14 provides an answer, saying, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity” — And dwelt amongst men.
Therefore, if Christ didn’t inherit a great name when he came into the world or became flesh, when did he inherit the great name?
Hebrews 1: 4 and 5 shed some light: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
From the above text, we see that Jesus inherited his great name when he was begotten: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And Jesus was begotten when he was raised up on that Resurrection morning — when God wrought the exceeding greatness of his power.
Paul, in his Sabbath day sermon at Pisidian Antioch alluded to this, saying, And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee (Acts 13:32-33).
Otherwise stated, So now we are bringing you the good news (Gospel) that what God promised to our forefathers, This He has completely fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, You are My Son; today I have begotten You — caused You to arise, to be born; formally shown You to be the Messiah by the resurrection. Hallelujah!!!
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe
