The Sweetest Name
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | March 29, 2026
Due to technical difficulties, the recording for this service is unavailable.
Read Philippians 2:5 – 11 (NIV)
It seems hard to believe but today is Palm Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Lent, which marks the start of Holy Week… when we begin the last leg of the journey toward Easter or Resurrection Sunday.
The season of Lent and Holy Week represent a time when our hearts and spirits are filled with a sense of expectancy as we await the return of Christ the King… His second coming… This is sometimes referred to as the Second Advent which falls on the opposite end of the spectrum, so to speak, from the Season of Advent that we celebrate in the weeks leading up to Christmas when we traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Both the season of Lent and the season of Advent are marked by feelings of expectation and anticipation as we make preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and ultimately His death, burial and resurrection. Now, these times of waiting can be compared to that of parents who are awaiting the birth of their child.
And one of the first questions that is often asked of expectant parents is, “Do you know what you’re having?” ...and thanks to modern technology known as an ultrasound... the response is generally either “Yes... it’s a girl,” or “Yes... it’s a boy,” or perhaps, “Yes... but we want it to be a surprise for everyone else.”
This last response is likely the impetus for what has come to be known as “gender reveal” parties that we see popping up more and more.
However, there are others who decide not to find out what they are having. They want it to be a surprise, like it was back in the day. The parents can often be heard to say, “As long as the baby is healthy… whatever God gives us will be a blessing.”
Now, all of this brings to mind those baby showers of the past... when the expectant mother would be told to lie down on the couch while one of the guests dangled a string wrapped around a dime over her stomach... and depending on which way the dime moved was an indicator of whether it was going to be a boy or a girl.
Back then, there was also a highly scientific “baby-knows-best” test... which you might recall. If the mother-to-be could pick up a little girl and hold her without incident... but little boy babies cried when they were picked up... that meant the baby she was carrying was presumably a boy.
And if the opposite occurred and the little girl babies cried while the little boys snuggled close, then it was determined that mom must be having a girl. All of which was based on the well-documented theory that opposites attract.
Now, the second most frequently asked question of expectant parents is, “Have you picked out any names yet?”
Now for parents who have opted to find out whether they are having a boy or a girl, they generally only have to choose one name.
However, in days gone by, the response to the name question might go something like, “Well, if it’s a boy, we planning to name him Jack or Frank and if it’s a girl, we are going to name her Susie or Sally.”
Sometimes the names that are chosen are based on family traditions. Sons and daughters are often named after grandfathers or grandmothers, or aunts or uncles, or fathers or and even mothers,... you know, like June and June.
Some names are chosen because they follow a theme. On my mother’s side of the family, for example, they like to use the same first initial – we have Virgil, Vance, Vanessa and Vernon, along with Steve, Sean and Scott, Wendy and Wayne, and Robin and Renee.
There are still other parents who choose the names of popular sports figures or entertainers like Taylor, Travis, LeBron or Beyonce.
And then there are parents that choose names that come from the Bible. My brother’s sons’ names are Daniel and Matthew and my grandfather, my uncle and my uncle’s son were all given the name Jesse. And then right here at Ledgewood we have an Eve, an Elizabeth and even two Ruths.
But regardless of the selection method parents may choose... there is great significance and importance to the naming of a child.
That is because the name we give that child will most likely follow them for the rest of their life... and it can often set the stage for how well they will succeed as well as how they may be perceived by others.
There are times when we could form an incorrect opinion of someone before we even meet them based solely on their name.... It makes me think of that old Johnny Cash song, “A Boy Named Sue” and brings to mind the fact that John Wayne’s real name was actually Marion.
For individuals applying for employment... the name they were blessed with at birth may subject them to hidden biases in the selection process as screeners consciously or unconsciously skip over those applicants with names they believe to be of a particular racial or ethnic background.
Screeners at airports in the aftermath of September 11 and other terrorist attacks since then have often been accused of profiling passengers chosen for “random” security checks… some believe the choice of passengers was really not random at all... but suggest the selection was based on a person having an ethnic or foreign sounding name.
But it was the playwright, William Shakespeare, in the play Romeo and Juliet, who posed the question, “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Well, when we study the Scriptures, we find that in both the Old and New Testaments, names were used to reflect personal experiences or even to influence a person’s character.
For example, in the book of Genesis, we find the story of Esau and Jacob. The name Jacob means supplanter… and he was given that name because although he was the second of the twins to be born, he stole the birthright and the blessing that rightfully belonged to his older brother, Esau.
In the book of Ruth, we encounter a woman named Naomi, which means, “delightful one” or “my delight.” However, when Naomi returned from Moab after losing her husband and both of her sons, she no longer felt delight and told everyone to call her “Mara,” which means bitter… because as she explained, she had suffered such bitter losses in her life.
Over in the book of Acts, we find a man named Joseph who was given the name Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” or “son of consolation” because he was so busy caring for and encouraging others.
And as we think about names being a reflection of one’s character, let me ask this... has anyone had to deal with the legacy of an older brother or sister when a teacher at school recognized your last name?
Let me suggest, names really do have significance.
In the Gospel of Luke (1:29 – 31), an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary... while over in the Gospel of Matthew (1:20 – 24), it was Joseph who encountered the angel... but in both instances the angel told the expectant parents that they would have a son and that they were to give Him the name, Jesus.
The angel told Mary that this son “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,” and He would reign forever and ever (Luke 1:32). And he told Joseph, that “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
That is why when the baby was eight days old, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple to be circumcised, and He was given THE SWEETEST NAME... Jesus.
And there really is something significant about that name because as it says in our text for the morning:
Read Philippians 2:5 – 11 (NIV)
It seems hard to believe but today is Palm Sunday, the last Sunday in the season of Lent, which marks the start of Holy Week… when we begin the last leg of the journey toward Easter or Resurrection Sunday.
The season of Lent and Holy Week represent a time when our hearts and spirits are filled with a sense of expectancy as we await the return of Christ the King… His second coming… This is sometimes referred to as the Second Advent which falls on the opposite end of the spectrum, so to speak, from the Season of Advent that we celebrate in the weeks leading up to Christmas when we traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Both the season of Lent and the season of Advent are marked by feelings of expectation and anticipation as we make preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and ultimately His death, burial and resurrection. Now, these times of waiting can be compared to that of parents who are awaiting the birth of their child.
And one of the first questions that is often asked of expectant parents is, “Do you know what you’re having?” ...and thanks to modern technology known as an ultrasound... the response is generally either “Yes... it’s a girl,” or “Yes... it’s a boy,” or perhaps, “Yes... but we want it to be a surprise for everyone else.”
This last response is likely the impetus for what has come to be known as “gender reveal” parties that we see popping up more and more.
However, there are others who decide not to find out what they are having. They want it to be a surprise, like it was back in the day. The parents can often be heard to say, “As long as the baby is healthy… whatever God gives us will be a blessing.”
Now, all of this brings to mind those baby showers of the past... when the expectant mother would be told to lie down on the couch while one of the guests dangled a string wrapped around a dime over her stomach... and depending on which way the dime moved was an indicator of whether it was going to be a boy or a girl.
Back then, there was also a highly scientific “baby-knows-best” test... which you might recall. If the mother-to-be could pick up a little girl and hold her without incident... but little boy babies cried when they were picked up... that meant the baby she was carrying was presumably a boy.
And if the opposite occurred and the little girl babies cried while the little boys snuggled close, then it was determined that mom must be having a girl. All of which was based on the well-documented theory that opposites attract.
Now, the second most frequently asked question of expectant parents is, “Have you picked out any names yet?”
Now for parents who have opted to find out whether they are having a boy or a girl, they generally only have to choose one name.
However, in days gone by, the response to the name question might go something like, “Well, if it’s a boy, we planning to name him Jack or Frank and if it’s a girl, we are going to name her Susie or Sally.”
Sometimes the names that are chosen are based on family traditions. Sons and daughters are often named after grandfathers or grandmothers, or aunts or uncles, or fathers or and even mothers,... you know, like June and June.
Some names are chosen because they follow a theme. On my mother’s side of the family, for example, they like to use the same first initial – we have Virgil, Vance, Vanessa and Vernon, along with Steve, Sean and Scott, Wendy and Wayne, and Robin and Renee.
There are still other parents who choose the names of popular sports figures or entertainers like Taylor, Travis, LeBron or Beyonce.
And then there are parents that choose names that come from the Bible. My brother’s sons’ names are Daniel and Matthew and my grandfather, my uncle and my uncle’s son were all given the name Jesse. And then right here at Ledgewood we have an Eve, an Elizabeth and even two Ruths.
But regardless of the selection method parents may choose... there is great significance and importance to the naming of a child.
That is because the name we give that child will most likely follow them for the rest of their life... and it can often set the stage for how well they will succeed as well as how they may be perceived by others.
There are times when we could form an incorrect opinion of someone before we even meet them based solely on their name.... It makes me think of that old Johnny Cash song, “A Boy Named Sue” and brings to mind the fact that John Wayne’s real name was actually Marion.
For individuals applying for employment... the name they were blessed with at birth may subject them to hidden biases in the selection process as screeners consciously or unconsciously skip over those applicants with names they believe to be of a particular racial or ethnic background.
Screeners at airports in the aftermath of September 11 and other terrorist attacks since then have often been accused of profiling passengers chosen for “random” security checks… some believe the choice of passengers was really not random at all... but suggest the selection was based on a person having an ethnic or foreign sounding name.
But it was the playwright, William Shakespeare, in the play Romeo and Juliet, who posed the question, “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Well, when we study the Scriptures, we find that in both the Old and New Testaments, names were used to reflect personal experiences or even to influence a person’s character.
For example, in the book of Genesis, we find the story of Esau and Jacob. The name Jacob means supplanter… and he was given that name because although he was the second of the twins to be born, he stole the birthright and the blessing that rightfully belonged to his older brother, Esau.
In the book of Ruth, we encounter a woman named Naomi, which means, “delightful one” or “my delight.” However, when Naomi returned from Moab after losing her husband and both of her sons, she no longer felt delight and told everyone to call her “Mara,” which means bitter… because as she explained, she had suffered such bitter losses in her life.
Over in the book of Acts, we find a man named Joseph who was given the name Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” or “son of consolation” because he was so busy caring for and encouraging others.
And as we think about names being a reflection of one’s character, let me ask this... has anyone had to deal with the legacy of an older brother or sister when a teacher at school recognized your last name?
Let me suggest, names really do have significance.
In the Gospel of Luke (1:29 – 31), an angel of the Lord appeared to Mary... while over in the Gospel of Matthew (1:20 – 24), it was Joseph who encountered the angel... but in both instances the angel told the expectant parents that they would have a son and that they were to give Him the name, Jesus.
The angel told Mary that this son “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,” and He would reign forever and ever (Luke 1:32). And he told Joseph, that “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
That is why when the baby was eight days old, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple to be circumcised, and He was given THE SWEETEST NAME... Jesus.
And there really is something significant about that name because as it says in our text for the morning:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” And in Colossians 3:17 we read, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Talk about THE SWEETEST NAME...
In John 16:23-24, Jesus told the disciples:
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Talk about THE SWEETEST NAME...
In John 16:23-24, Jesus told the disciples:
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
And in Luke 10:17, we read about the disciples being so amazed at what they were able to do in Jesus’ name that they told Him, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Back in 1970, Bill Gaither wrote a song entitled, “There’s Something about that Name.”
The lyrics simply say:
Back in 1970, Bill Gaither wrote a song entitled, “There’s Something about that Name.”
The lyrics simply say:
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there’s just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there’s something about that name.
(There's Something About That Name by Bill and Gloria Gaither © 1970)
And then in 1998, Kirk Franklin and Nu Nation released a song entitled, “Something about the Name Jesus” and the refrain to that song says:
Something about the name, Jesus.
Something about the name, Jesus.
It is the sweetest name, I know.
Oh, how I love the name, Jesus.
Oh, how I love the name, Jesus.
It is the sweetest name, I know.”
In a nutshell, there is power in the name of Jesus, which truly is THE SWEETEST NAME I know.
And yet there are some who do not recognize the power and authority that is in the name of Jesus... which means it is up to us to do our best to tell them about THE SWEETEST NAME they will ever hear... which is the name of Jesus.
It is why we are told in the Great Commission in Matthew 28 to go out and make disciples, baptizing them, how? “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Now, let me pose this question for consideration, what’s in our name?
Do we call ourselves Christians? A child of God? A joint-heir with Jesus?
And do our lives accurately reflect the name that we claim?
Because the reality is that there is much more to all of this than simply calling ourselves “Christian.”
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and take on the name “Christian,” we must be willing to accept everything that goes along with it.
In fact, the first few verses of our text for the morning as they are found in the Message Paraphrase say:
And yet there are some who do not recognize the power and authority that is in the name of Jesus... which means it is up to us to do our best to tell them about THE SWEETEST NAME they will ever hear... which is the name of Jesus.
It is why we are told in the Great Commission in Matthew 28 to go out and make disciples, baptizing them, how? “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Now, let me pose this question for consideration, what’s in our name?
Do we call ourselves Christians? A child of God? A joint-heir with Jesus?
And do our lives accurately reflect the name that we claim?
Because the reality is that there is much more to all of this than simply calling ourselves “Christian.”
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and take on the name “Christian,” we must be willing to accept everything that goes along with it.
In fact, the first few verses of our text for the morning as they are found in the Message Paraphrase say:
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Now I am not insinuating that we all need to head to a cross to be crucified… but I am suggesting that we have all been called to live lives of surrender… which means being selfless and being obedient to God.
Accepting the name Christian, brings with it the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength (see Matthew 12:30 – 31). And to love our neighbors as ourselves… even when that means putting the needs of others ahead of our own.
Simply put, it’s what comes with claiming the name of Jesus.
And there are certain things that ought to be reflected in our lives as a result of accepting the invitation to follow Jesus.
And just what are those things, you may ask... Well, let’s start with, “faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
As Christians we can have faith in the name of Jesus… trusting that by His name and no other name, we have been saved.
As Christians we can put our hope in the name of Jesus… praising God because, “in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
And there is love in the name of Jesus… because “God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
And in accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior... as we begin to live our lives as Christians, God does command us to love one another... but God also calls us to forgive one another.
However, if we are being honest... forgiveness can be a difficult thing at times… but the Word of God tells us we are to forgive one another… just as God has forgiven us through Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus himself tells us that if we forgive, we will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). In other words, forgiveness is not an option for Christians. It is a requirement.
Now beyond loving one another and forgiving one another, God also commands us to bear one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 tells us to, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Love one another, forgive one another, bear one another’s burdens…
This is what God calls us to do when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior… when we surrender ourselves to living like Him and humbly call ourselves by the name Christian.
Now when we try to answer that question “What’s in a name?” particularly when it is THE SWEETEST NAME... the name of Jesus… let me just say, there is so much more than we can ever imagine…
When we talk about the power and authority in the name of Jesus… and reflect on the faith, hope and love, that we find in the name of Jesus… we have barely scratched the surface.
So, let me ask you this … has there ever been a time when you have been at your wits end… when you didn’t know how you would make it through… when you didn’t know if you even wanted to make it through? And the only thing you could say was “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” and suddenly you felt lighter? Suddenly you didn’t feel quite so hopeless? But you could not exactly explain why?
The circumstances hadn’t changed. You were still in the middle of whatever it was that had you at the point of despair only moments before. And yet, there was a peace and calm that had washed over you.
Just saying the name Jesus in the midst of a storm can bring about a peace that surpasses all understanding… which really should come as no surprise… after all, Jesus is the one who can calm the winds and the waves simply by saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39).
Which is why the Scriptures go on to tell us that the disciples “were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?’” (Mark 4:41).
We know who it is... and we know that storms are stilled... problems are resolved... and peace is restored... when we call on THE SWEETEST NAME... the precious name of Jesus...
And it is with that thought in mind that I want to invite us to stand now and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: Precious Name (v. 1, 3, 4) #625.
Amen.
Back
Accepting the name Christian, brings with it the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength (see Matthew 12:30 – 31). And to love our neighbors as ourselves… even when that means putting the needs of others ahead of our own.
Simply put, it’s what comes with claiming the name of Jesus.
And there are certain things that ought to be reflected in our lives as a result of accepting the invitation to follow Jesus.
And just what are those things, you may ask... Well, let’s start with, “faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
As Christians we can have faith in the name of Jesus… trusting that by His name and no other name, we have been saved.
As Christians we can put our hope in the name of Jesus… praising God because, “in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
And there is love in the name of Jesus… because “God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
And in accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior... as we begin to live our lives as Christians, God does command us to love one another... but God also calls us to forgive one another.
However, if we are being honest... forgiveness can be a difficult thing at times… but the Word of God tells us we are to forgive one another… just as God has forgiven us through Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus himself tells us that if we forgive, we will be forgiven (Luke 6:37). In other words, forgiveness is not an option for Christians. It is a requirement.
Now beyond loving one another and forgiving one another, God also commands us to bear one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2 tells us to, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Love one another, forgive one another, bear one another’s burdens…
This is what God calls us to do when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior… when we surrender ourselves to living like Him and humbly call ourselves by the name Christian.
Now when we try to answer that question “What’s in a name?” particularly when it is THE SWEETEST NAME... the name of Jesus… let me just say, there is so much more than we can ever imagine…
When we talk about the power and authority in the name of Jesus… and reflect on the faith, hope and love, that we find in the name of Jesus… we have barely scratched the surface.
So, let me ask you this … has there ever been a time when you have been at your wits end… when you didn’t know how you would make it through… when you didn’t know if you even wanted to make it through? And the only thing you could say was “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” and suddenly you felt lighter? Suddenly you didn’t feel quite so hopeless? But you could not exactly explain why?
The circumstances hadn’t changed. You were still in the middle of whatever it was that had you at the point of despair only moments before. And yet, there was a peace and calm that had washed over you.
Just saying the name Jesus in the midst of a storm can bring about a peace that surpasses all understanding… which really should come as no surprise… after all, Jesus is the one who can calm the winds and the waves simply by saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39).
Which is why the Scriptures go on to tell us that the disciples “were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?’” (Mark 4:41).
We know who it is... and we know that storms are stilled... problems are resolved... and peace is restored... when we call on THE SWEETEST NAME... the precious name of Jesus...
And it is with that thought in mind that I want to invite us to stand now and join in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: Precious Name (v. 1, 3, 4) #625.
Amen.
