Power in The Name of Jesus
Names carry profound significance in many cultures, and nowhere is this truer than in the Bible. While in the Western world names often serve as mere designators to distinguish one person from another, in the Eastern world, and particularly in biblical contexts, names encompass much more. They signify a person's worth, character, reputation, authority, will, and ownership. In fact, the name of a person in biblical times was viewed as equivalent to the person themselves.
The significance of names is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God progressively revealed aspects of His nature through various compound names, each reflecting a different attribute. A few well-known and frequently mentioned names are:
Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah Rapha: The Lord Heals (Exodus 15:26)
Jehovah Nissi: The Lord Our Banner (Exodus 17:15)
Jehovah Shalom: The Lord Our Peace (Judges 6:24)
These names, while significant, were partial revelations of God's nature. The people of the Old Testament desired to know God more intimately, often seeking to understand His name.
When Moses asked God what name he should give to the Israelites, God responded, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14), indicating His eternal, self-existent nature and His promise to always be present for His people.
When Jacob wrestled with the man at Peniel (a manifestation of God), he asked, "Tell me, I pray thee, thy name."
However, it was not until the New Testament that God's complete revelation came in the person of Jesus Christ. The name "Jesus" means "The Lord saves." The name of Jesus encapsulates and surpasses all the Old Testament names of God. This name of Jesus carries supreme power and authority.
The name of Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah’s words, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
This wonderful child was the mighty God, the everlasting Father, but His name was Jesus. Paul told the church at Colossae that we must be rooted and built up in Jesus, for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10).
Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of His name. He instructed His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, which they understood to mean the name of Jesus (Matthew 28:19). Accordingly, the apostles only baptized in the name of Jesus. This is affirmed in Acts 4:12, where Peter declares, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Throughout the book of Acts, miracles, healings, and conversions happen through the name of Jesus.
The early church preached, taught, prayed, baptized, and performed miracles in His name. Today, Christians continue to experience the power of Jesus' name. Whether facing sickness, demonic oppression, or other challenges, the name of Jesus brings deliverance, healing, and victory. Philippians 2:9-10 declares that God has exalted Jesus and given Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
The name of Jesus is more than a label; it is the embodiment of God's power, presence, and purpose. It carries the full weight of God's authority. As believers, we are called to do everything in the name of Jesus, recognizing that there is no other name with such power and significance.
We must do everything in Jesus' name. We know that there is power in the name of Jesus. We are still praying, baptizing, preaching, teaching, and laying hands on the sick… in the name of Jesus. We still believe in the power of the name of Jesus.