Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

“Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Philippians 2:5-11 (9-10 written here.)  

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 

“We love because he first loved us.” I John 4:19

Our fall Sunday worship and sermon’s focus on a section of The Apostles’ Creed.  The September 16 Sunday focus was, “and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;” The day’s hymns and Scripture reflected this focus as well. See below a few details on some of the hymns that were part of worship that Sunday.

Although the contemporary song, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There’s Just Something About That Name” may not be closely Biblically-based, it is one of those songs that continue to run through our head, all week long. The Bill and Gloria Gaither Vocal Band wrote and performed it starting in the 1960s.

In contrast, the popular hymn, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” lyrics were written in 1779 by Edward Perronet while a missionary in India. Its original eight verses were inspired by Philippians 2:5-11.

Neida Hearn, New Zealand housewife, doing laundry in 1974, composed “Jesus, Name Above All Names”. She had become interested in different Biblical names given to Jesus and their meanings. 

The hymn, “O’ How I Love Jesus” based on I John 4:19, reminds us that we love Jesus “because He first loved me”. It was written by Frederik Whitfeld in the 1800s.  “Fairest Lord Jesus,” another familiar hymn, continued with the Jesus theme.

The sermon, Scripture, and music helped us to understand the phrase of The Apostles’ Creed section, “and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord”.

                       

Prayer: God, we confess that we sometimes say The Apostles’ Creed without understanding its meaning.  Remind us to focus on the words as we say it.  Amen.

Lois Poppe