The Name of Jesus - Why I like to say It as often as possible

by Quincy Wheeler on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 12:55pm

From St. Bernard's Fifteeth Sermon in the Canticle of Canticles (I have put some of the older language in modern terms).

"The Name of Jesus is Light, and Food, and Medicine. It is Light, when it is preached to us; it is Food, when we think upon it; it is the Medicine that soothes our pains when we invoke it.

“Let me tell you about each of these. Just try to explain how so bright and sudden a light came into the world, if not from the preaching of the Name of Jesus? Was it not by the light of this Name that God calls us unto the Glorious Light of Intimacy with Him? And in this light, seeing the Light, we take these words of Paul as addressed to us; Once, you were darkness; but now you are light in the Lord." 

"But the Name of Jesus is not only light; it is also Food. Aren’t you strengthened, as often as you think of His Name? Can anything nourish the mind like meditating on this Name? What else so restores our tired senses, strengthens our courage, teaches us to relish the good, and inspires the purest devotion? Every food of the soul is dry that is not soaked in the sauce of His Presence; it is tasteless, if it is not seasoned with this salt. If you write, I do not care about your writing, unless I read there the Name of Jesus. If you teach me, or talk to me, your words are nothing to me unless I hear you say the name of Jesus. JESUS is honey to the mouth, and music to the ear, and gladness to the heart." 

"It is also Medicine. Are you sad? Let Jesus step foot into my heart, and, as soon as I can open my mouth to say Jesus! …Look! The light of that Name breaks every cloud, and brings sunshine back again. Have any of you committed sin? Is despair driving you into the arms of death? Invoke the Name of Life, and life will come back to your soul. Was there ever anyone, that hearing this saving Name, could keep his hardness of heart, or live in sleepy forgetfulness of God, or dwell in bitterness, or enjoy a lazy spirituality? If anyone was so heart-broken as to believe she would never feel anything, did not her tears gush more fully than ever, and flow more sweetly than ever, as soon as she cried out the Name of Jesus? If anyone was ever in danger, and his heart beat with fear, did not this Name of power bring him confidence and courage the moment he pronounced it? When we were tossed back and forth by doubts, did not the evidence of what was right bring us rest as soon as we called upon the Name of light? When we were discouraged, and nearly crushed by life’s sadness, did not our heart soar when our tongue first formed the Name of help? All these miseries and more are the sicknesses and faintings of our soul, and the Name of Jesus is our Medicine." 

"But, how does His name work these miracles? Call upon me in the day of trouble, says the Lord; I will deliver you, and you will glorify me [Psalm 49: 15]. There is nothing which so restrains the impulse of anger, calms the swelling of pride, heals the wound of envy, satisfies our greed, smothers the flame of lust, quenches the thirst of self-importance, and dispels the fever of uncleanness -- as the Name of Jesus. For when I pronounce this Name, I bring before my mind the Man, who, by excellence, is gentle and humble of heart, sweet, caring, faithful, merciful, and filled with everything that is good and holy – in fact, who is the very God Almighty -- whose example heals me, and whose assistance strengthens me. I call all this into my life, when I call the name of Jesus. Here have I my model, for He is Man; and my help, for He is God; the one provides me with precious drugs, the other puts them into effect; and from the two I make potion such as no physician knows how to make." 

"Here is the cure, my soul, hid in the container of this Name, Jesus; believe me, it is wholesome, and good for every ailment you can have. Keep it always with you, in your heart and in your hand; so that all your affections and actions may be directed to JESUS"


My Comment:
Morgan Reid ‎"One day it will be a part of the normal Christian life to be at least as spititual as the New-ager and not need to apologize for it." - Matt Evans :)
This is awesome! Breath-taking and breath-giving at the same time. It reminds me of this song (below) you made need to look up the lyrics ; ) But I love when he says "the best thing that's ever happened to me; it gets sweeter as the days go on." ♥ It's time for Him to come up in my conversations more. Thanks for the post, I'm a fan!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9udOK01XI

Kirk Franklin-Sweetest Name I Know

www.youtube.com

‎1 of my gospel favorite