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Day 17: The Fragrance of His Name (SoS 1:3a)

"Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you." Song of Songs 1:3

The Bride said her Beloved's name is a perfume that gives a fragrance that makes many love Him. That exactly is what Jesus' name should do to our hearts.

Just like certain ointments produce certain fragrances, names evoke emotions and responses. Some evoke anger or bitterness when we hear them, some laughter and fond memories, not really because of the name but the personality behind the name. When we truly know Jesus, then we can know the fragrance of His name.

Jesus' name is not what gives Him personality or makes Him powerful, it's His person that gives virtue to His name. Before Jesus came to earth, that name was just another beautiful name. Even today, anybody can name their child Jesus. But there is something about Jesus that makes HIs name so special.

When you read through the bible you'll know that a name is not only for identification purposes, a name is the shortest representation of a person's identity, life, and reputation. The name Jesus in the same way indicates the work Jesus came to do. His life and death all resulted in that one thing: the salvation of men.

But the most important meaning of a name is that it represents a man's authority and value: his wealth and influence. Jesus obtained the authority and value in His name in two ways:
  1. By inheritance:
Hebrews 1:4 say:

“having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

Being God, the Son of the Most High, He is Lord of all creation. Just as even on earth children inherit their Father's estate, Jesus inherited His Father's. Beyond that, He created the world and by law, all creation belongs to Him. He has a copyright to all things created: both seen and unseen, even satan himself. So when He returned to heaven after His work on earth, He was crowned Lord of all first because of inheritance.
  1. By conquest:
Philippians 2: 8-10 says:

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ”

When we say the name of Jesus, we encapsulate in that name His work delivering man from the clutches of the evil one. And has names communicate experiences, I like to think that when I say the name of Jesus satan has PTSD. He experiences how Jesus defeated him all over again.

This is the name we've been baptized into! All that belongs to this name now belongs to us!

When we think of the name of Jesus in these ways with the mindset that we have been given this name, there is no way it won't be like sweet perfume to us and evoke love in our hearts for Him. So one of the things we must do to fall deeply in love with Jesus is to contemplate His name: it's one of the many reasons we must love Him. Christ's name is offensive to the devil. but to us, love is the fragrance of His name.

PRAY WITH ME:
Thank you Jesus for your sweet name. Thank you for the authority I have in your name. Lord, I ask that you will grant me a revelation of your name all over again so that I may fall deeper in love with you. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:
  • As you go, meditate on Galatians 1:27:
"You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself. So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus." (GNT)






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