Healing Rays of Righteousness

There’s Something About That Name

Gloria and Bill Gaither’s hymn by that title is a beautiful praise/adoration response to Peter’s declaration that “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, … that this man stands before you healed. … Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12).

“Je-sus, Je-sus, Je-sus! There’s just something about that name! Master, Savior, Jesus! Like the fragrance after the rain. Je-sus, Je-sus, Je-sus! Let all heaven and earth proclaim: Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, But there’s something about that name!”

Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem as triumphant King. “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech. 9:9).

Paul says that this King’s name is “Jesus” and that this name has life-altering implications. “Jesus” is the name above “every name” and is the name by which “every knee should bow, …and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:10-11).

“Jesus” is a name with a specific meaning, and it was given to the child of Bethlehem with that specific meaning in mind. “Jesus” is the Greek parallel to the Old Testament name “Joshua” and literally means “the Lord saves.”   

There are a lot of people who will say that “Jesus” is a great moral teacher. Or that he is a great spiritual guru, just like Buddha, Mohammed, or Mother Earth. Others will say he is an ethical character of a story, as in Aesop’s fables. Still others will say that “Jesus” is nothing more than a swear word. Certainly, none of these understandings of “Jesus” are going to bow a knee to his Lordship or add voice to his Kingdom praise hymns.

Unfortunately, today’s Christianity is not offering much, if any, compelling counter-portraits of “Jesus” to our confused, misguided culture. We who claim to be followers of “King Jesus” need to give more serious attention to Ghandi’s indicting words about Christianity: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”Although spoken several decades ago, they are even more relevant as an indictment in our present day.

Today, the name “Jesus” is frequently invoked by those who name themselves “Christian” when speaking in favor of certain political issues at the expense of others. Such hypocritical use of the name “Jesus” causes many nonbelievers to assume that while Jesus saves, Jesus saves only straight, pro-life, law-abiding, drug-free, racially white, middle-class, church-attending, American citizens.

That might be some people’s version of Jesus. But it is not the biblical “Jesus” who, journeyed through city and country to offer love and salvation to thieves, hookers, social and religious outcasts, as well as blessing just about everyone he met with healing of mind, body, and spirit, during his three-year ministry on earth.

We so quickly forget that Jesus did not die for the “put-together” people who need no physician nor king. Instead, he died for helpless “train wrecks” like you and me. Even better, the biblical story tells us that “Jesus” would save “whosoever believes” – both the messed-up greedy power-people and the messed-up grieving powerless-people.

Most importantly, followers of “King Jesus” have been invited to honor his Kingship by remembering his suffering, death, resurrection, and “exalted highness” as we share his bread and cup in communion with him and with one another at the King’s table of life and love.

The relevant question during this week of remembering Jesus’ suffering and death is, what do I think about the name “Jesus”? Do I agree that the name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves,” and that anyone can be the recipient of this salvation? Do I believe that confessing “Jesus as Lord” is to acknowledge that he is the person who embodies and enables all that I am and should be in my world of worship, work, and family.

To love the name “Jesus” is to humbly bow and joyfully worship his “exalted highness” as “King Jesus.”  And it is to daily live as “Jesus” people, bringing light, love, and hope into the lives of our neighbors. As followers of “King Jesus” we are commissioned to tell others that the evil powers of Satan may crucify Jesus today, but Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, assures us that he is alive and continues to lift up the fallen, comfort the brokenhearted, and set at liberty those who have been imprisoned. Hallelujah! He is alive!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – 3/27/24 – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley

The MESSAGE of POWER

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV). Read that verse again slowly and thoughtfully.

This was one of the scriptures supporting our pastor’s message yesterday, “Christ Among Us, Showing Us Justice.” As I contemplated this verse, two words, “message” and “power” challenged my thinking, and I heard a new message enlarging my usual perspective of the cross.

Jesus’ sufferings and crucifixion death on a cross as it relates to our salvation from sin, is front and center in our thoughts and teachings during the weeks of Lent, and rightly so. But there is an additional, equally important, and powerful message from the cross. It is this; Jesus’ death by crucifixion was not only necessary for our eternal salvation, it is also the consequence of being LIGHT and exposing the many dark evils of injustices, racial disparities, and religious hypocrisies in the world around him.

The prophets looked into the future and wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2). The gospel writer, John, introduces Jesus by writing, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And in chapter three, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Then John records Jesus’ own declaration in chapter eight, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world.”  (John 1:4-5, 3:19, 8:12).

Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus was LIGHT, calling out and exposing the evils of disobedience to God’s created order and rule among both the religious and national authorities. It is significant that during the week before his crucifixion and death, Jesus enters Jerusalem as king, goes first to the Temple and exposes its evils of polluted worship behaviors, declaring the religious establishment as weak and limited. Later in the week, standing before powerful Pilate, Jesus again declares himself to be king and reminds Pilate that his authority is weak and limited.

Thus, we can say, with biblical support, that Jesus’ death was the consequence of his being LIGHT, exposing the evils of hypocrisies and lies in both church and state, as well as being necessary for our salvation and reconciliation with God.

But then I remember Jesus saying to his disciples then and now, “You are the light of the world. … … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14,16). And I begin squirming with “what if” fears, in light of the message I just heard regarding Jesus’ death on a cross being the consequence of being LIGHT. I prefer less risky witness activities, and so pray, “O God, strengthen me in being your LIGHT in my world.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 4, 2024 – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – Ray M. Geigley