What’s In A Name?

The names of his [Enoch] grandfathers depict and portray You [Jesus] in terms of great beauty and admiration. As Cainan means “hereditary lord,” so You, Jesus, are the “Heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2). Mahalaleel means “man who praises God.” O Jesus, You praise Your heavenly Father in all Your deeds and bring us into the estate in which we shall honor and praise God forever. Jared means “sovereign lord and prince.” O Jesus, You have dominion from sea to sea (Ps. 72:8)—yea, from heaven to earth to hell Yours is by right a threefold crown.

All this is admirable and comforting, but the image of Enoch outdoes all others. Enoch means “a man taught and instructed by God, into whose mouth God Himself puts the words.” O Lord Jesus, You say of Yourself, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John [7:16]). Oh, how my heart is comforted to know that Your Father is of one mind with You. When You absolve me of sin, Your Father will never gainsay it, but will let it stand forever according to Your words.

Enoch further means “a man consecrated by God Himself.” O Lord Jesus, at the Jordan and on Mount Tabor Your heavenly Father Himself consecrated You and appointed You to Your office. Woe to those who will not hear You nor acknowledge You as their Savior. What is more, Enoch also means “a man completely devoted to God, seeking nothing but God’s glory.” O Lord Jesus, here I am reminded of Your words of humility, when You said to John, “I do not seek My own glory” (John 8:50). Dear Lord Jesus, You devoted Yourself wholly to Your Father, even to the point of a contemptible death, that I, who on account of my sins was devoted to eternal death, might be devoted to the Father as His own and pulled from the jaws of eternal death. In return, therefore, I will devote myself, body and soul, to Your glory. O Lord Jesus, I want to be Yours only forever and ever.

Herberger, Valerius The Great Works of God: Parts One and Two: The Mysteries of Christ in the Book of Genesis, Chapters 1-15 263-264