Name of God

 

Name of God, On 16th Aug 2022

‘Every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father’

  Jesus is shared his personality equal with God the Father, he became like a slave to die on the Cross. Cross is the symbol of curse in the time of Jesus in Palestine. This kind of punishment is given to the people who do most shameful sins in the society. He took the Cross to remove the sins of the old parents by plucking the fruit of the forbidden tree and ate it. God commanded them not to eat the fruit of the tree. So Jesus sacrificed his body on the Cross of wood of the tree. The tree which was symbolising the tree which Adam and Eve was tempted by Devil. Jesus made it as a libation of his blood to bring salvation for the dead and alive. ‘Should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Ph 2: 11. Here God acknowledge His name of Lord to Jesus. gave this Name, because everything in heavens, earth and underworld to bend the knee in-front
of Jesus Christ to glorify God the Father. ‘Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, Taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beingare; and being in every way like a human being he was humbler yet, even to accept death, death on a cross. And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names; So that all beings In the heavens, on earth and in underworld, (Phi. 2: 6-11) Jesus did not consider his divinity as Son with the Father. He emptied himself to be crucified on the Cross to bring all the humanity into salvation.  

Name of God

 

Jesus, You are the Christ Son of the Living God .

  When we believe that Father and the Son is one, then only our faith will increase. This faith makes us  grow spiritual and enter into maturity in grace. But growing spiritual means we should become nothing. Let us pray to our Lord, to make us empty our pride and all kind of grudges.  ‘He must grow greater, I must grow less’ (Jon. 3: 30) Lord, increase our faith in you. Like St. Peter proclaimed his faith. Jesus said, ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Matt.16: 16). Matthew 16:17 (D-R): because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. Believing Jesus is the Son of God is ultimate step for our spiritual life. Father and son is the only One God, this should be our faith. Lord, make us empty ourselves and fill your grace in us. Unless are not in the Spirit of God we don’t understand the Name and greatness of our Lord. We should be humble like Mother Mary to understand the mysteries of God. Mary said, ‘You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.’(Lk. 1: 38) ‘The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord’ (Sir. 3: 18)

The Name of God

 

Sanctify ourselves and our Lord will work wonders among us. 

   God allows only the holy people to stand in the presence of Him. Lord asked Moses and the Israelites to see His presence only Moses allowed to go close to him and talk to him. God ordered Moses no one should come closer to him otherwise they will die. We should sanctify ourselves, and then only we could see God. Yahweh then said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and tell them to sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes and be ready for the day after tomorrow, in the sight of all the people; Yahweh will descend on Mount Sinai. You will mark out the limits of the mountain and say, “Take care not to go up the mountain of the touch the edge of it. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death. No one may lay a hand on him: he must be stoned or shot by arrow; whether man of beast, he shall not live.” When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they must go up the mountain.’ So Moses came down from the mountain to the people; he made the people sanctify themselves and they washed their clothes. He then said to the people, ‘Be ready for the day after tomorrow; do not touch a woman.’(Exodus.19: 10-15). Let us sanctify ourselves to meet Jesus and the  Father in His glory. I remember years back when I was in distress Br.Abey gave thre Word of God, Josh 3:5. Joshua said to the peoples, ‘Sanctify yourselves, since tomorrow Yahweh will work wonders among you’  I received this Word of God. All the worries and troubles vanished by the grace of God. God made marvelous miracles in me in that particular time to do what exactly He wants in me. He wiped away all my tears and kept me stand firm in Jesus. Praise God! And praise His Holy Name. 

Name of God

 

Jesus said: I am He, they moved back and fell on the ground. 

   When Our Lord said to the Sadducees and the Pharisees this Word ‘I am He’, they were trembled in fear and were withdrawn back and fall on the ground. Jesus shows us no one can stand in front of the power of God. But he is merciful and he emptied himself to be like us. If God says ‘I am’ that means nothing sustain in front of his power. There is only one ‘I’, who is our Lord and God.  ‘Knowing everything that was to happen to him, Jesus came forward and said, ‘Who are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus Nazarene.’ He said, ‘I am He.’ Now Judas the traitor was standing among them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am He,’ they moved back and fell on the ground. He asked them a second time, who are you looking for? They said Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus replied ‘I have told that I am He. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go’. This was to fulfil the words he had spoken, ‘Not one of those you gave me have I lost ’ (Jon. 18: 4-9). Nobody can stand in-front of the power of God. When Jesus said: ‘I Am He’ they all moved back because of the power by his Word. Jesus himself is the Word and they were afraid of him and they fall on the ground. How powerful his Word is and He is the Creator of all the Universe. He  humbled Himself to fulfill His mission for salvation of all humanity. 

Name of God

“Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent”

Jesus was praying in the Gospel of John Chapter 17, for all the apostles and disciples before his passion. The prayer of Jesus in Gospel of John is very touching, our Lord Jesus Christ is praying to Father in Heaven. He did not miss any intentions for all of us. In John 17:3 “ eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Here Jesus is explaining about the eternal life. The eternal life is this to know God the Father and the Son He sent. While believing Jesus is the Son of God, our faith in God will be complete. How we get the eternal life is by knowing and understanding Jesus Christ and Father is One God. If we read this chapter on daily basis before going to sleep, will give us so much courage and strength from God through His Spirit.

Name of God

 

The Son of Man will be lifted up, then we will realise, Jesus Christ is Son of God. 

   Jesus again revealed his name to the peoples as God revealed his divine name to Moses that “I Am He”  In scripture says: They did not recognise who he was talking to them, about the Father. Here Jesus is revealing about his death on the Cross, and his resurrection. Jesus says “when you have lifted up the Son of Man” we will realise he made the sacrifice of his life for us and died for our sins.   So Jesus said: ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that ‘I am He’, and that I say is what the Father has taught me; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I am always do what pleases him.’(Jon. 8: 28). Jesus is saying and teaching us what the Father told him to do, but nothing from his own. He always do what pleases the Father in Heaven. The Father is always with him, and He did not left Jesus alone, everything was planned according to His own will. What a great plan God has planned for us through Jesus Christ for our salvation. This was to establish the Eternal Everlasting Covenant which was His plan from the Beginning.  

Name of God

 

Name of God, 3rd Aug 2022

 “Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

 Lord, through our little knowledge it is difficult to understand your kingdom. But Lord, send us your Spirit and wisdom from above. “Where I am going, you cannot come?” ‘ Jesus went on: You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I have told already: You will die in your sins. Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’ (Jon.8: 22-24) Yes Lord, if we do not believe that you and Father is the one God, we will die in our sins. Jesus said the same name God gave to Moses ‘I Am He’. Lord, How many times you said to us you are the one and the only Son of God who came down form heaven. Still we Israelites do not believe the Truth. The Truth is the Word of God ‘Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth’. (Jon. 17: 17) When we encounter with God and come to spirituality we will understand God is true and existing in this universe. When we find that the Truth is Jesus, he will be our only God, then we will turn away from any human made gods.  There are many cosmic powers, principalities and ruling forces in this world. When we come to know the the truth we will understand God the Trinity ‘And eternal life is this to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’. (Jon. 17: 3) Lord, let me surrender myself to you and hold me in your arms.

Name of God

 

Jesus Christ is the same God, who has spoken to Moses from the bush

I remember the words of Br. Shaji when he explains the Name of God. He said: ‘Jesus Christ is the same God, the living God, who  has spoken to Moses from the bush, in Mt. Sinai. And we should believe He is our Lord and God’ ‘The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame blazing from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing, but the bush was not being burnt up. Moses said, ‘I must go across and see this strange sight, and why the bush was not being burnt up.’ When Yahweh saw him going across to look, God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses, Moses!’ he said. Here I am,’ he answered. Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take of your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I am God of your ancestors.’ he said ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and God of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look at God.’(Exodus.3: 2-6). God is asking Moses to make him holy before approaching Him. God has told His name to Moses and he afraid to approach God and face His vision. In this Vision to Moses he felt his nothingness and he humbled himself and accept the will of God. God again revealed His Name “God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob. Moses was trembled with fear and respect towards God. 

Name of God

 

God revealed His Name to Moses, “I am He sent me to you”

God revealed His divine name to Moses, God Himself talk to him. He blessed Him with many graces and virtues, which no other Prophets or holy people ever experience this much. Moses then said to God, ‘Look if I go to the Israelites and say to them, “ The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is his name?” what am I to tell them?’ God said to Moses ‘I am he who is.’ And he said, ‘this is what you are to say to the Israelites “I am has sent me to you.” God further said to Moses, ‘You are to tell the Israelites, “Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name for all time, and thus I am to be invoked for all generations to come.’ (Exodus. 3: 13-15). God has appointed Moses to liberate Israelites from the Egyptians. God has chosen Moses by His mercy and grace not by any effort of Moses. But He made him His own friend. God spoke to Moses and He shown His Mighty presence to him. He will pour of His grace to all of us once we know and understand Him. What a powerful name God is having 'I AM'. Only God is the One who is eligible to proclaim 'I Am God'.