The Name Above All Names

This Sunday is January 1, which is traditionally The Feast of the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is because January 1 is eight days after Christmas, and so the traditional day on which Jewish boys are circumsized and named.

In Hebrew thought, a name contains the essence of the person. The song that most captures this feast day of the Church's awe for the name of our lord is "Jesus Name Above All Names." The lyrics are:

Jesus, name above all names,
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord,
Emmanuel, God is with us,
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.
In researching this song, I discovered a web page on the history of the song as found in Lindsay Terry's book, The Sacrifice of Praise: Stories Behind the Greatest Praise and Worship Songs of All Time, by Integrity Publishers. The story is that of New Zealand native Naida Hearn (1931-2001) and how this great praise song grew out of praising God while doing the laundry:

Of the approximately twelve songs she wrote-she wasn't quite sure how many-only one has been published, but what a song! She wrote it as she was nearing her fortieth birthday.

As she studied the Bible, she became interested in the different names referring to Jesus and their meanings. So great was her interest that she began to make a list of the names on a piece of paper.

As is the case with many homes in Palmerston North [New Zealand], she and her family had a "washhouse" behind the regular living quarters of the home. One day in the early 1970s, as she made her way to the washhouse, she carried with her the paper on which she had written the names of Jesus. According to her report to me, she placed the paper "on the window seal against the window." The paper was in full view as she did the washing.

Feeling in a very worshipful mood, she suddenly found herself singing. She expressed it to me as follows:

"While I was doing the washing the Lord just gave me the first line, "Jesus, name above all names,' to sing. I just started it and carried on singing. I sang the whole song just as you sing it today. I just opened my mouth and all of the words came out, the pitch and everything. I just sang...Soon after that it was sung in her church, New Life Church in Palmerton North...

This story makes Jesus, Name Above All Names a testament not just to the name of Jesus, but also to the way in which we can worship God in all times and places.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church