JESUS, NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES

The name Jesus is a wonderful and meaningful name when you know Him.  Our song history today is not about a traditional hymn, rather it is about a short worship song called, JESUS, NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES.

The songwriter, Naida Hearn, never dreamed she would have such an impact on Christian music and singing in so many nations.  In 1931, she was born to Bill and Elsie O’Hara in Palmerston North, New Zealand.  As a young child, she attended a Methodist Sunday School where she began to learn the truths in the Bible.  As she grew in her faith, she became interested in the different Biblical names given to Jesus and their meanings.

About the age of 30, and while doing some washing chores one day, she was contemplating a list of names for Jesus that she had compiled.  “The Lord gave me the first line of a song,” Naida said.   She continued, “I began singing it just as you hear it today. I just opened my mouth and the words came out…melody and all.  It is all about Jesus…it is a love song!”

The song was soon being sung by local congregations and with believers of many languages.  It remains a worldwide favourite among followers of Jesus still today.