Paul wrote in Philippians 2 that, as a result of Jesus’ having humbled Himself and being obedient even to death on the cross, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” What a glorious day that will be, and with so much misery and chaos and confusion and sadness in our world today, how we all long for that day to come soon! It all brings to mind that thrilling description in Revelation 4 and 5 of all 24 elders (representing the church of all the ages, from the 12 tribes of the Old Testament to the 12 apostles of the New Testament) falling down before the enthroned Son of God, worshipping this one who lives forever and ever, casting their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”
It is the name of Jesus, a name which includes all that He is and ever has been, all that He has done, and all that He has promised to do, which is truly the central message of the Bible. That’s what must have been involved in that amazing conversation He had with the disciples from Emmaus as He sat there at the dinner table, explaining what the Bible was all about. “And He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).