That Name
There is something in a name. Just ask Danielle Maurer.
Maurer was a contestant on the TV game show Jeopardy on the episode which aired May 6, 2022. Going into the final round, she had gained $11,400 with her ability to answer trivia questions. She was behind the leader, Mattea Roach, by $7,800. Roach had won 23 games in a row and had profited $560,983 in those games.
Now it was time for Final Jeopardy. The topic was announced: “USA.” Each contestant secretly made a wager and then the clue was given:
“These 2 mayors gave their names to a facility built on the site of an old racetrack owned by Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler.”
After 30 seconds of deliberation, each contestant entered an answer. The contestant with the lowest financial winnings, Betsy Hobbs, gave an incorrect answer losing $7,000 of her $7,400 earnings. Maurer gave the correct answer, “Who are Hartsfield and Jackson?” (These are the names included in the name of the international airport in Atlanta, Georgia.) Maurer had wagered $4,200 bringing her total to $15,600. Roach’s answer was incorrect. She had risked $3601, so her final score was $15,599, only one dollar less than Maurer. Maurer won the game by $1!
There is something in a name. For Danielle Maurer, there was $15,600 in knowing just two names!
There is a name that is even more valuable. It is the name of Jesus.
The name of Jesus represents His authority – all the authority of heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). His name encompasses His identity and everything He has done. After Jesus accomplished what the Father wanted Him to do which culminated in His death on the cross for the sins of the world, “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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
In the name of Jesus, there is found something much more valuable and eternal than all the money in the world. In the name of Jesus, there is salvation (Acts 4:12) and eternal life (1 John 5:13).
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess His name before others (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). God will continue to cleanse from sin those who seek to honor the name of Jesus by walking in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that Name.
Master, Savior, Jesus
Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there’s something about that Name.
-- Bill & Gloria Gaither
Won’t YOU call on His name through your trusting obedience?
-- David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from “Metro woman beats ‘Jeopardy!’ champ by $1 on question about Atlanta airport” by WSBTV.com News Staff. Thank you, Gary Davis, for bringing this article to the author’s attention.
