The Name of Jesus

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

After the Pentecostal experience and the establishment of the Church, outreach ministry has been started. The first step was this miracle and it is important to understand the primary tool utilized here.

The Name of Jesus is the one to be raised up higher. We can read that Peter went forward to the lame man, asked him to “look at us” and then voluntarily gave the healing from Christ. The lesson to us here is how proud they were to be in possession of the name of Jesus. Peter and John could have had silver or gold but they believed the name of Jesus to be more precious for them to be silent and this being the most effective gift they could give to anybody.

In Luke 10:17, we read the seventy people who were sent out to minister were amazed how even demons obey to the name of Jesus. We read in verse 1 that Jesus had sent them two by two as if there was a single person, it could be that this person has performed it.  We also should understand that the devils does not obey Jesus alone, they obey us if we command in Jesus’ name. Jesus also confirms that in verse 19 that “we” have the authority to trample. Jesus becomes the source of authority but we are the beneficiaries here. There is no evidence of failure after somebody had used the name of Jesus. The people said that the demons were obedient to them and not just drive them away. If this name is used with faith, even mountains move.

In Mark 9:38-41, we read that somebody who works miracles in Jesus’ name is on Jesus’ side. These people may not necessarily follow our beliefs. Even if Jesus was living in the same locality and they had the opportunity to be silent and follow the group with Jesus, these people were away and alone. They had different strategies. But Jesus accepts them 100% and claims them to be on His side. We may have different approaches, doctrines and understanding of scripture. But if we humble ourselves and try hard to promote the name of Jesus, we will reap rewards. After this acceptance, Jesus warns people of using Jesus’ name wrongly as in Mark 13:6. Here people come and mention that “I am He” which means that people would try to steal the position of Christ in the Church. As per Mathew 7:22, miracles are not signs that a person is powerful or right. He maybe on Jesus’ side and even get rewards, but it is very much possible for Jesus to not know him and that makes us people who practice lawlessness. Extreme caution should be exercised when using the name of Jesus as per 2 Timothy 2:15-19. The Lord knows clearly who belong to Him and who does not and still uses His name. This is a mighty tool which can be used for self-proclamation.

In many instances we read the phrase “Jesus of Nazareth” and on a similar meaning “Son of Man”. Jesus mostly wanted to identify Himself as a local person who is one among us. The phrase also means that he is a person who was lower than us by reading Nathanael’s term in John 1:46. Nathanael was a good person as we read in the following verses, and so it is right to see what good can come from this person and then understand that He is the Son of God and the king of Israel. Whenever we use Nazareth, we acknowledge that Jesus lived and is real and is easier to understand. This representation of the name is a good practice. Philip calls Nathanael to come and see and that clean spirit with expectations to see had excited Jesus to say that he is a person without deceit. In the last verse Jesus mentions about the connection between heaven and earth which is a very higher miracle for us to witness.

Mathew 18:5 explains that we are honoring Jesus and His name if we honor the humble and childlike who have no expectations and those who had submitted themselves for no cause. If we honor and receive these people, we are receiving Jesus Himself. The method is to receive them in Jesus name as if Jesus would receive them. Similarly in Mathew 18:20, we read Jesus coming first to meetings if we come in His name. A few verses earlier, we can read how Jesus honors the Church’s decisions and wants us to bind things as we have the power if we truly gather in His name. But if we have fellowship for anything else than His name breaks us apart and makes us fall down. 1 Corinthians 1:10 speaks about unity because of the Name of Jesus.

In Acts 3:16, Peter emphasizes the name of Jesus being the only source of all goodness. We can read the same in Acts 4:12 where this name is given to us for salvation. We have to exalt the name of Jesus as high as we can in the Church.

Amen.