The Highest Name

I love sports movies and two of my all-time favorites would have to be “Rocky” and “Rudy.” In both, we watch the unknown underdog overcome all odds to rise to greatness. They go from “no names” to having thousands all around them chanting their names; “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky” and “Rudy, Rudy, Rudy.” Even today, every time I watch, my heart beats fast and I am inspired to shout their names with the thousands of others.

In the scripture above, we are reminded of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem, knowing He was on His way to a brutal death. As He makes His way along the road, people begin to lay down palm branches and even their jackets on the dusty road in front of Him. And those who were ahead of Him, and those behind Him all shouted His name; “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

I often wonder if I were there when Jesus made His way into Jerusalem, whether I would have recognized who He was and been willing to shout His name and the truth about who He was. It is so easy to be tentative, or hesitant, to use Jesus’ name as we make our way through life and our crazy culture. In Philippians, we read that God gave Jesus the name that is above every name, and that at His name, every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Christ the Lord to the glory of God the Father. We should be ready to share and celebrate His name every chance we get.

A number of years ago, I was greatly challenged, encouraged and inspired by a song by James Ward called “Ain’t No Rock.” The lyrics go on to say, “Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place, as long as I’m alive, I’ll glorify His holy name.” Whenever I am in a situation where I am tentative about proclaiming or celebrating Jesus and his name, I often hear a voice in the back of my mind say, “Speak up. Don’t miss this opportunity to proclaim Jesus and His name.” I certainly don’t want any rock to cry or sing in my place to bring honor to the greatest name of all time, the name above all names, a name worth celebrating – “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”