One Solitary Life

Jesus Christ was born some 2000 years ago in very humble circumstances to a young
teenage virgin girl named Mary. Jesus life on the earth was a mere 33 years, and only
three of those years were spent doing ministry and teaching publicly. He was born in an
obscure village, in a manger, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another
village. He worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was
an itinerant preacher.

He never raised an army. He never ran a company. He never had much money. He never
owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family.
He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two
hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually
accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran
away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the
mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying
His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat.
When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the
human race and leader of the column of progress, nearly 2 billion people claim to be
Christians and worship Jesus as their God.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies
that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned,
put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that
one solitary life.

This essay was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” ©
1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”).

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In the Scriptures Jesus and The Heavenly Father are represented by various names;
these names reveal a little bit more about who They are to us, and how we experience
help from them through our daily lives. That’s why when God was speaking to Moses in
the wilderness and Moses asked God who should he say sent him, God replied, “I AM
WHO I AM”. God could not give Moses a name because He would be limiting Himself by
that name. So basically what God was saying is I am whatever it is you need me to be at
any point in time. Someone has said that it’s like God giving us a blank check for us to
fill in.

If you do not know a person’s name you cannot say you know him or her. Knowing the
name of an individual is the first step in knowing that person. As you interact with the
person, you get to know him or her better. This is the same in every relationship, even
our relationship with Jesus. This Christmas will you think with me and think of a name
we can use to represent or in place of the Name of Jesus or the Name of our Heavenly
Father. Some Scriptural examples:

Elohim (God) “The might or strong one”; it represents the power of God and is
especially used in relationship to creation and strength. (Genesis 1: 1; Psalm 68: 1)

Adonai (Lord) “master” and generally represents the authority and position of God.
(Psalm 68: 32; Isaiah 6: 8-11)

El Shaddai “God Almighty” and represents God as the all powerful source of blessing
and comfort. (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Psalm 68:14)

El Elyon “God most High” and represents God's strength and sovereignty. (Genesis
14:18; Psalm 9:2)

El Roi “God who sees” and represents God's personal care and presence (Genesis
16:13)

El Olam “Everlasting and Eternal God” and represents God's eternality and infinite
strength. (Genesis 21:33; Isaiah 40:28)

Yahweh or Jehovah (Lord) “the self-existent one” (I am who I am or I am the One

who is) and represents God's personal name and His eternality. (Genesis 2:4; Exodus
3:14; Psalm 68:14)

Yahweh Jireh “The Lord provides” this was used by Abraham when God provided a
sacrificial lamb instead of Isaac. (Genesis 22:14)

Yahweh Sabbaoth “The Lord of hosts” (hosts is sometimes translated almighty or

army) and pictures God as the commander of the heavenly armies. (Joshua 5:14; I
Samuel 1:3; Psalm 24:10)

Yahweh Rophe (or Rapha) “The Lord who heals” and represents the physical and
spiritual healing power of God. (Exodus 15:26)

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Yahweh Shalom “The Lord is peace” and represents the lack of tension, conflict and
strife in God. (Judges 6:24)

Yehweh Nissi “The Lord is my banner” and signifies that the battle is the Lord's.
(Exodus 17:15)

Yahweh Tsidkenu “The Lord our righteousness” and represents God as the only source
of true righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:6)

Yahweh Maccaddeschcem “The Lord our sanctifier” (or the Lord who makes you holy)
and represents God is the one who sets people apart and makes them holy. (Exodus
31:13; Leviticus 20:8)

Yahweh Raah (rohi) “The Lord our Shepherd” and represents God's loving care,
protection and provision for His people. (Psalm 23:1)

This Christmas what blessing does Jesus want you to call Him by?

The one who buys my groceries?

The one who unites families if only for a little while?

The one who gives strength?

The one who protects my loved one while they are away from me?

The one who makes me feel loved?

The one who has given me…….?

These are funny names aren’t they? NO, names Jesus has chosen to represent Himself
to some of His Children, you.

How is Jesus revealing Himself to you this Christmas Season?