Name Above All Names was written by two Scottish-born pastors who now serve in the States, one in Ohio and the other in South Carolina. These men, Alistair Begg and Sinclair B. Ferguson, are brilliant expositors of God's Word. I've often heard Alistair Begg preach on his radio program Truth for Life and, despite living in America for thirty years, he still has a lilting accent! (And though I've never heard Sinclair Ferguson, I'm sure his accent is just as good!) But even better than their accent is this beautiful book they've written, Name Above All Names, wherein they examine seven of the names of Jesus as given in the Scriptures. The names are the Seed of the Woman (Gen. 3), the True Prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2), the Great High Priest (the entire book of Hebrews), the Conquering King (John 12), the Son of Man (Daniel 7:9-14), the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) and the Lamb on the Throne (Revelation 5).
Weaving together New Testament narrative and Old Testament prophecies, Begg and Ferguson bring together a rich, seamless book first and foremost about worship. It's a book to draw you to worship Christ. And when I finished, I came away feeling exactly that. Everything is centred around Scripture. The character of Christ, the Name Above All Names, is explored and examined and exalted above all else. It is a beautiful read - you cannot help but treasure Christ by the time you're done.
This book is also about joy. As you read about who Christ is and you pause and worship, you cannot help but feel joy within you. This joy is in the identity of Christ and His wondrous ministry. It's in His atoning death and resurrection. And it's in His imminent return. The final chapter in Name Above All Names, The Lamb on the Throne, is perhaps the most powerful chapter, reflecting on the name given to Christ in Revelation - the Lamb who was slain. The chapter points to future glory and what will happen when we see Christ face-to-face for the first time:
One day the shadows will flee away. The days of preparation will all come to an end. The final day will dawn. Already we acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. But then we will know him as we have never done before - in face-to-face fellowship. Then we will be made like him, for we shall see him as he is. We shall then see Jesus as the Seed of the Woman who crushed the Serpent's head, as the Prophet of God whose word directs our lives, as the Great High Priest who intercedes for us, and as the King who subdues all our enemies and reigns over us forever. We will recognize him as the Son of Man seated beside the Ancient of Days, and as the Suffering Servant who is now exalted as the Lamb on the throne. On that day we will see with unclouded vision why his Father has given him the Name above All Names.
I cannot recommend this book enough! Definitely pick up a copy; it will be near the very top of my books read this year - if not the top book. You won't regret this read, I promise. How can you when it's a book all about Christ that instills in you worship and joy?