At the Name of Jesus by Francis Monroe Burg

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 15, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 36.

At the Name of Jesus

By Francis Monroe Burg

Showing Mercy and Kindness — He Forgives Sins, and Fits Us for the Joys of Eternity — The Songs of Triumph

By FRANCIS MONROE BURG

"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Luke 16: 16.

The name announced before the birth of Bethlehem's Babe was Jesus: "And thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1: 21.

The Only Name

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4: 12.

"Sweetest note in seraph song, Sweetest name on mortal tongue, Sweetest carol ever sung,— Jesus, blessed Jesus."

The disposition to forgive an offender and to extend mercy toward an enemy, to love those who have done us a wrong, and to do them good, is the highest and most charming grace that can be exhibited. He was called Jesus because "He shall save His people from their sins,"—because of His disposition to forgive sins, and to do good toward His enemies. In this is His claim to recognition as the One whom God sent, and who came to reconcile the world to God again. "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." 2 Cor. 5: 19.

Showing Mercy and Kindness

The disposition to show mercy toward the sinful and erring is the characteristic of Jehovah which distinguishes Him from all the gods that claim the recognition and the devotion of men. Says the psalmist: "For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me. Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone." Ps. 86: 5-10.

Pardoning Iniquity

Micah exclaimed: "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy." Chapter 7: 18.

Moses declared the name of Jehovah when he said, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty." Ex. 34: 6, 7.

Peace and Good Will

So when the Child was born who was called Jesus, an angel choir came down from

heaven and sang over the plains of Judea, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2: 13, 14. That wonderful song, which broke the stillness of the freighted night, has reverberated throughout the vast creation of God, showing that One alone among all the gods can claim the reverence and devotion of men,—the One whose attitude toward His creatures is one of devotion, of love and good will.

The story of His goodness in the everlasting gospel has led many to repentance, and will continue to win the love and devotion of men till a host as numberless as the sands of the sea shall join with David, one of the chief of sinners, who was saved by His grace, to tell the story of His goodness and His mercy "throughout all generations." "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations." Ps. 89: 1.

Endless Songs of Gratitude

In all the eternal years, those who have been forgiven by His grace, and who have tasted of His mercy and goodness in the forgiveness of sins, will give vent in endless song to their gratitude to Him who purchased their redemption at infinite cost. "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." Eph. 2: 4-7.

A Vision of the Great Host

A vision of that great host of the redeemed, singing their song of praise, was given to the seer of Patmos: "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts 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 that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Rev. 5: 11-13.

May the readers of this paper become acquainted with Him who is called Jesus, who "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We should seek for the "spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." Eph. 1: 17. It is not enough to know of Him historically, nor will it avail for us to have a mere theological belief in Him. No one is acquainted with Jesus who does not know Him in an experimental way as a Saviour from sin and its power. To such a person, He is the chiefest among ten thousand, and the One altogether lovely.