Jesus’ name should mean more to us than any other name. His name is not only powerful, it offers us protection, lovingkindness, peace, joy, and so much more. His name is the backbone of our faith.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
What’s in a name?
I recently met a new cousin, online, through my late mom’s earlier study of our family’s genealogy. Finding our ancestors is big business nowadays. I learned that my great-grandfather was a whaler out of Nantucket and a lighthouse keeper in Maine. One great-great uncle helped lay out the city of St. Paul. My grandmother’s parents were part of the famed Underground Railroad in Ohio, hiding runaway slaves in their cellar. Numerous men fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
My mom also discovered a relative who was lynched for stealing horses and a family member who became a Mormon and begat twenty-one children. Many of us likely have ancestors of whom we’re proud and perhaps a few we wished had belonged to someone else’s family tree.
Only one man was given a name that we can be proud of and upon which we can rely. His name is Jesus. Why is His name more important than others? The Bible says: “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12.) Such strong words either draw people to Him or cause them to reject the statement.
There are many reasons why we should believe in the name of Jesus and none other. He cares for us and answers our prayers. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” And David wrote, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)
Though Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death, God the Father “has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
Jesus warned His disciples about the end times, “Take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many … You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Mark 13:6, 13)
Father God, thank You that we can claim the name of Jesus, Your Son, for our eternal salvation from sin and for Your love and mercy. May the power in Jesus’ name keep us from believing in any other. Amen.
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