Jesus: Eternal Word, Seed, Gift, and Name

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, Eternal Word Before Time and Christmas

Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem; He is the eternal Word who was with God and is God. Christmas celebrates His arrival, not His origin. From eternity He is the Father's perfect expression—what the Father decrees, the Son brings into reality. He ties the whole Bible together so that promises, prophecies, and patterns find their meaning in Him. Let your view of Him stretch beyond years and seasons; He is the Lamb prepared before the foundation of the world, present and active even now. [06:02]

John 1:1–2,14: Before anything began, the Word already existed, alongside God and fully divine; from the start He was there. Then the Word took on our humanity and made His home among us; we saw His glory, overflowing with grace and truth.

Reflection: How would your Bible reading change this week if you expected every page to point to Jesus as the living Word? Choose one book or chapter and look for how He fulfills it.

Day 2: Christ the Seed: Hidden, Growing, Revealed

From humanity’s first fall, God promised a seed who would crush the serpent. Seeds work undercover; they look small and insignificant, yet they carry a whole harvest inside. Throughout the Old Testament, Jesus moved quietly—foreshadowed in rams, rocks, burning bushes, the fourth Man in the fire, and the Son of Man vision—until the secret blossomed in plain sight. What looked like delay was preparation; roots were forming where eyes could not see. Trust that God’s plan still grows beneath the surface of your life, even when the soil looks dry. [13:14]

Genesis 3:15: I will set enmity between you, serpent, and the woman—between your offspring and hers. Her descendant will crush your head, while you only manage to bruise His heel.

Reflection: Where do you sense God working below the surface right now, and what small act of trust could you take to agree with His hidden growth?

Day 3: Her Seed: The Virgin Birth and New Birth

God promised a salvation so holy that He called it “her seed,” overturning natural expectations. The Creator stepped into creation, older than His mother, choosing a womb He fashioned, to bring impossible hope to a broken world. He defied biology to author your new birth, proving that your “impossible” is His normal. This is not a tale of myth but of mercy—God drawing near, taking on diapers and dust to lift us into sonship. Let your cynicism yield to wonder: if He began this way, what impossible thing might He begin in you? [19:10]

Galatians 4:4: When the appointed time arrived, God sent His Son—born of a woman and born under the law—so those bound by the law could be brought into the full rights of God’s family.

Reflection: Name one area that feels biologically, financially, or emotionally “impossible.” How will you invite Jesus into it this week, and what first step will you take?

Day 4: The Gift Who Opened the Way to God

In the wilderness the priest moved cautiously toward God, but in Jesus, God moved compassionately toward us. The Word “tabernacled” among us; the Holy One stepped out from behind the veil and became the Lamb Himself. On the cross, the “packaging” was torn—stripes, thorns, and nails opening the way we could never force open. What looked like destruction was deliverance; as He was wounded, the barrier fell and mercy flowed. Receive Him not as a trinket to shelve but as your everything, the gift you entrust with your whole life. [24:26]

Isaiah 53:5: He was pierced because of our rebellion and crushed because of our crookedness. The cost of our peace was laid on Him, and by the blows He bore, we are made whole.

Reflection: What is one concrete way you will honor Jesus as God’s costly gift this week—confession, forgiving someone, or setting time to worship?

Day 5: The Name Above Every Name: Jesus

Jesus humbled Himself all the way down—servant, cross, tomb—and the Father lifted Him all the way up. His name carries His story: obedience, blood, and victory. You may not recall every verse, but you can call His name; in pain, fear, or silence, whisper “Jesus,” and find heaven drawing near. This is first-name grace: the King invites you to know Him closely, not from a distance of titles. Bowing to His name frees the heart, clears the mind, and leads the will into joy. [27:05]

Philippians 2:5–11: Take on the mindset of Christ Jesus: though truly God, He did not cling to privilege but emptied Himself, becoming a servant. He became human and obeyed to the point of death—death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him beyond measure and gave Him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bows, and every tongue announces that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection: Identify one situation that tempts you to anxiety or control. How will you intentionally speak the name of Jesus over it each day and respond with one act of humble obedience?

Sermon Summary

From Matthew 1 and Philippians 2, the focus centers on one person: Jesus. The name given by heaven is not a title crafted by empire or trend, but the revelation of God’s eternal plan. The story does not begin in Bethlehem; it stretches back beyond Caesar, beyond Israel’s kings, beyond time itself. Before He was called Jesus in time, He was the Word in eternity—the personal, divine self-expression of the Father—through whom all Scripture and creation hold together. What God declares, the Son accomplishes; what the Father promises, the Son fulfills. He is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the key that makes the entire Bible make sense and the One present at “Let us make man in our image.”

This eternal Word is also the promised Seed. Hidden in Genesis 3:15 and veiled throughout the Old Testament, the Seed is planted in types and shadows—Abraham’s ram, Moses’ bush, the rock in the wilderness, the fourth man in the fire—until Isaiah and Daniel glimpse Him rising. The prophecy calls Him “the seed of the woman,” signaling a birth that defies biology. God writes a new creation story through a virgin’s womb, so that the One born to do the impossible enters creation in an impossible way: the Creator becomes creation, the Master becomes servant, God becomes Savior.

Then the Word becomes flesh and “tabernacles” among us. The direction of approach changes: no longer humanity inching fearfully toward the veil, but God stepping out from behind it to meet humanity in Christ. At the cross, the Gift is “opened”—His wounds tear the veil, His stripes heal, His blood makes a way. God did not give the world what it wanted or deserved; He gave what was needed—His everything in His only Son.

Because of His obedience unto death, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name above every name. That Name bears blood and authority. To speak “Jesus” is not mere sentiment; it is appeal to the fullness of God, the confession the Spirit Himself empowers. This Name is a complete prayer when words fail, a door that opens when strength is gone, power over darkness, sickness, sin, and shame. Call Him by His first name—Jesus—and everything heaven purposes begins to move.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus, Eternal Word made known Christ is not a late entry into history but the eternal Word who fulfills the Father’s decrees and makes sense of all Scripture. He is the personal revelation of God—expression, explanation, and execution of the divine will. The gospel is older than time; the Lamb was slain before foundations were poured. Knowing Jesus as the Word steadies faith when sight is dim because His promises cannot return void. [09:59]
2. Salvation hid as a humble Seed God concealed the plan in a “seed” no enemy could read, unfolding it through shadows and types until the fullness of time. Genesis promised the woman’s Seed, signaling a virgin birth that rewrites creation and births a new humanity. What looks small, hidden, or insignificant often carries heaven’s largest harvest. Trust the slow work of God; seeds do their best work underground. [13:14]
3. God comes near as our Gift In Christ, God left the mercy seat, stepped through the veil, and came to us, becoming both High Priest and Sacrifice. His wounds are not defeat; they are the tearing open of the Gift, the opening of the way. He gave not something but His everything—the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. Receive Him rightly, and the Gift keeps giving—mercy, healing, and access. [19:36]
4. The Name that carries all authority Because He humbled Himself to death, Jesus now bears the Name above every name. That Name carries blood, history, and divine fullness—when spoken in faith, it confronts darkness, steadies anxious hearts, and gathers heaven’s help. The Spirit empowers its confession: “Jesus is Lord.” When language runs out, His Name is a complete prayer. [25:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:16] - Joseph’s dream and the Name
[02:22] - Christ’s humility and exaltation
[03:54] - Why names matter in history
[06:02] - The everlasting, preexistent Christ
[09:59] - Christ the Word unveiled
[11:41] - “Let Us” and the divine image
[13:14] - Christ the Seed promised
[14:25] - Hidden in the Old Testament
[16:49] - “Her Seed” and virgin birth
[19:36] - Christ tabernacled among us
[21:33] - God’s greatest Gift given
[24:26] - Wounds that open the Gift
[25:06] - Name above every name
[29:55] - The Name that is a prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Matthew 1:20–21

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

- Philippians 2:5–11

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 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.

- John 1:1, 14

Observation questions

In Matthew 1:20–21, what two instructions does the angel give Joseph, and what two reasons are given for them (about Mary and about the child’s name “Jesus”)?
In Philippians 2:5–11, trace the “downward” movement of Christ (what He chose to do) and the “upward” movement (what God did in response). What verbs stand out to you in each part?
In John 1:1, 14, how does John describe who “the Word” is, and what does he say “the Word” did among us? Why does “dwelt/tabernacled” matter?
Several Old Testament “shadows” were named as hints of the hidden Seed—what were two or three of them? “The Old Testament is like a long episode of ‘undercover boss’” [13:14].

Interpretation questions

“He is the Word of God”—not just letters on a page but God’s own personal self-expression in person [09:59]. How should this change the way a believer listens to Scripture and trusts God’s promises when circumstances are unclear?
God promised “her seed” would crush the serpent. Why is the phrase “her seed” theologically important, and how does it point to a virgin birth and a new creation work of God? “I’m calling it her seed” [16:49].
According to Philippians 2:5–11, what does true greatness and authority look like in God’s kingdom? How does humility lead to exaltation, and why is that so different from normal human power?
If “instead of us going to meet God, God came to meet us” [19:36], what does that say about access to God today? How does this reshape ideas about earning, striving, and fear before God?
“His name is a complete prayer” [29:55]. What does it mean to call on the Name with faith rather than superstition? How does this relate to the Spirit empowering the confession “Jesus is Lord” (Philippians 2:11; cf. [32:55])?

Application questions

Trusting Jesus as the eternal Word: where is life confusing right now, and how will you practically lean on what He has spoken (a specific promise, a passage, a confession) this week? “He is the Word of God” [09:59].
Seeds do their best work underground: what small, hidden thing is God growing in you right now (a habit, a calling, a healing)? What one step will you take this week to water that seed? “Seeds are...undercover and buried” [13:14].
God came through the veil to meet us: where are you still living like you have to earn your way into God’s presence? What is one way you will receive—rather than strive—this week (for example, simple confession, silence, or thankful rest)? “Instead of us going to meet God, God came to meet us” [19:36].
The Gift was opened by His wounds: what specific wound (sin, shame, grief, habit) needs to meet His stripes? Name it. How will you bring it into the light before Jesus this week (prayer, trusted friend, communion, journaling)? “When they whip Him…they’re opening up the gift” [23:07].
The Name over every name: name one place of darkness, sickness, fear, or bondage you’re facing. For seven days, speak the name of Jesus over it once in the morning and once at night, and record what changes in your heart and circumstances. “His name is a complete prayer” [29:55].
First-name nearness: what keeps you from simple, childlike closeness with Christ? Try a breath prayer when anxiety rises this week—“Jesus, have mercy”—and note what happens in your mind and body. “Call me Jesus” [27:15].
In the midnight hour: if you wake with fear or feel pinned down by pressure, what will you do next time? Even if you can’t speak, plan to think His name until peace returns, and tell a friend what happened. “If you could just think the name” [31:55].

Sermon Clips

Whoo, God. I'm talking about Christmas. One day there was a change of direction, and instead of us going to meet God, God came to meet us. He got up off of his mercy seat and came down. He stepped out from behind that veil that kept him from us and stepped into time and changed his positioning from just receiving the sacrifice to now laying himself down and becoming the sacrifice and the lamb that was slain to give us salvation. [00:21:06] (28 seconds) #GodCameToUs

See none of them didn't laugh because they don't they don't spend no gifts on you know, they don't buy good gifts that's how you could tell. Right? Amen. Most expensive gift giving season of the year. And we give others gifts because God gave us his greatest gift. When God sent Christ into the world, he did not just give us something, he gave us his everything. [00:21:41] (18 seconds) #HeGaveHisEverything

Alright? Misuse it. Anybody know what I'm talking about? Anybody ever got somebody a really good valuable gift and you come in the house, it's all over the floor, they got stains and spots all over it, done messed it up and broke it, glory to God. It's a terrible thing and see good parents know what your kids can handle and what they will do with it. If you know your child is destructive and irresponsible, you're probably not gonna give them the newest iPhone, you're probably not gonna do that because that's a waste of money. [00:23:15] (24 seconds) #StewardYourGifts

Sorry sorry kids, I'm sorry y'all, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, supposed to be on y'all side. I can remember some gifts I received, I would beg for my please, daddy please I want this gift so bad and then sometime that same gift would barely make it past Christmas day. It'd be broken, I'd have dropped it, I'd have lost it, did some damage to it. But here's the thing about God as our father, he knew that humanity was irresponsible, that we were violent and destructive but he gave us Jesus anyway knowing that we would ravish him and beat him and tear his flesh but because he is a gift, packaged gift, when he is beaten and whipped and torn and wounded, it's simply the tearing away of the packaging to the gift of eternal life. When they whip him, they're opening up the gift. When they pierce him, they're opening up the gift. When they crucify him, they're opening up the gift. Glory to God. [00:23:40] (46 seconds) #GiftUnwrappedInSuffering

Thank you. I got a witness this morning. In that moment when they're whipping him and beating him, it went from just being his flesh to now being the veil that's in the temple and as they are ripping his flesh with the whip and as they're tearing him open and as they're beating him, they're tearing down the separation between God and man. They don't realize but as they're whipping him, they're opening up the way, the pathway between God and man and as they're destroying him, they're saving themselves. As they're killing him, they're giving themselves life. That's why after it was all over, the centurion servant stood there by the cross and hid himself on the breast and looked up and said, surely this has got to be Oh God, I feel the Holy Ghost. Surely this has got to be the son of God. Somebody clap your hands and give God the praise. [00:24:38] (48 seconds) #WoundsOpenTheWay

God, I feel the holy ghost. See, I'm closing here. This brings us back to when the angel was talking to Joseph. He could've tell him, call him king or call him emperor, call him Caesar, but he says, no, he's gonna be a king, but you can just call him Jesus. You don't have to call him by a title, just call him Jesus. You don't need to call him king, just call him Jesus. His first name is enough. [00:27:15] (22 seconds) #FirstNameIsEnough

Say it one more time. Say Jesus. Jesus. The angel said you ain't got to give him no title. Just call him Jesus because by the time he's dying, by the time he's done healing the sick and raising the dead and delivering the bound and casting the devil out, by the time he's due, everybody's gonna know his name. Glory to God. Everybody's gonna know his name. Like it or not, everybody knows the name of Jesus. [00:28:12] (21 seconds) #EveryoneWillKnowJesus

Sometimes you can't get it all out, but just say Jesus. You may not know every Greek and Hebrew word, but as long as you got the name of Jesus, that's all you need. His name is a complete sentence. His name is a complete prayer. His name is a historical fact. His name is a pain reliever. His name is an anxiety shooter. His name is a heart fixer. His name is a chain breaker. His name is the final answer. His name is a conclusion. His name is an introduction. His name is a solution. [00:30:00] (31 seconds) #JustSayJesus

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