Blessed be His name -- JESUS - PART 646

Blessed be the glorious name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus. His name is above every other name. Jesus -- the only mediator between God and man. It is He -- Jesus -- who is worthy to be praised. He shed His precious blood upon the cross so that we could partake of His goodness. His grace. His abundance. The love of Jesus that passes all understanding. It was He who made reconciliation for the sins of the people - for in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted and therefore able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

The scriptures state: "Greater love hath no man than this -- that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) But the Most High -- our Creator -- did not just shed His blood for His friends. His sacrifice on the cross was made for His enemies too. You and I.

Jesus said, "I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (John :)

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Christ Jesus who was faithful to Him that appointed Him as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses inasmuch as He who hath builded the house has more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man but He that builded all things is God.

While Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for the testimony of those things which were to be spoken after, Christ was as a son over His own house -- whose house are we -- if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore, I was grieved with that generation and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into My rest."

But we are thankful today that those of us who believe in Jesus and willingly do His will can enter into His rest. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest. His rest.

Hebrews 4:3 reiterates this assurance: "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, "As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into My rest" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Again, it is repeated. "If they shall enter into My rest." (Hebrews 4:4-5) There is a rest that remains in the people of God.

Hold fast then to our profession in Jesus --- our great high priest. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;  but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. How many times did Jesus say -- "Rise and be healed." How often did Jesus comfort the less fortunate. It is this same Jesus -- our heavenly Father in the flesh who desires that you "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Indeed, blessed be the name of Jesus. Matt Redman captures the essence of praising our Lord and Saviour Jesus in his song entitled Blessed Be Your Name. In the land that is plentiful -- where Your streams of abundance flow - blessed be Your name. When I'm found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness - blessed be Your name. Every blessing that You Jesus pour upon us -- when the sun's shining upon us -- and when the world is as it should be -- blessed be Your name Lord. But even when the darkness closes in Lord, still -- blessed be Your glorious name.

For God so loved the world. No greater love story can be found. Stand in the offering plate.