March 15, 2000
Name of Jesus brings hope amid life's changes
___PLAINVIEW--The name of Jesus represents constancy in a changing world, Fred Meeks insisted during the Panhandle Pastors' & Laymen's Conference.
___"The same can be superior to change. Jesus has a name that affirms the values of sameness," said Meeks, professor of religion and chairman of the division of religion and philosophy at Wayland Baptist University.
___Meeks participated in a series of Bible studies, all presented by Wayland religion faculty, which illustrated the conference theme: "Jesus Christ, the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever."
___When Jesus is called "Lord," it is the equivalent of the Hebrew name for God, "Yahweh," which is a form of the Hebrew word translated "to be," Meeks explained.
___"This name suggests God's most important attribute--he is, he is alive, he is the living God," he said. The name also implies other gods are not alive and do not exist, he added.
___The name of Jesus offers "a legacy to build on," Meeks said.
___"God identified himself to Moses as 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,'" the patriarchs of the Hebrew nation, he noted. "He is the God who provided the Hebrews a foundation upon which to build."
___Jesus' name also offers "strength to lean on," he added.
___"God identified himself to Moses as 'I Am,'" he recalled, noting that when others speak the name, it means "He Is" and it implies "he is here"--present for his followers.
___The name of Jesus also provides "a promise to depend on," Meeks observed.
___"God's name can be translated 'I Am Who I Am,' 'I Was Who I Was' and 'I Will Be Who I Will Be,'" he reported. "It suggests he is the God who will reveal himself. ... His name can be translated 'I Am There'--Jesus will be 'there' for us in every circumstance or crisis of life."
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