Jesus. His name is one of the most polarizing words in the world. If you utter His name in the Arab world, though their Koran considers Him a prophet, you would instantly be met with hatred and persecution.
If you were to say His name in Israel, they won’t hate you but they are likely to immediately dismiss you as unimportant and heretical to their belief that the Messiah is still to come.
Even in our own country, invoking the name of Jesus can be met with derision, hatred, and even prosecution.
His name has been used to justify atrocities and continues to be used flippantly as a type of curse word or oath. Why so much division or confusion in a name?
I believe that there are several reasons that the name of Jesus causes such a stir. First of all, I believe that within everyone, there is an inkling that Jesus is exactly who He says He is.
Since next Sunday is Palm Sunday and begins the Passion Week, I would like, this morning, to focus on the name of the one Man that was willing to go through all that we will look at in the coming two weeks. What does the Bible say about His name? First of all, It says that His Name is the only one by which we can have salvation
(Acts 4:12):
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Peter, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, spoke those words to the elders of the Jewish faith when he and John were brought in for questioning because they were spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.
It is only through the name of Jesus that we can be saved because He, and He alone was worthy to be the ultimate sacrifice for the remission of our sin. This truth is reiterated in 1 Corinthians 6:11
…but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
John, the Beloved Apostle, also tells us this in John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
So we know that it is only through the person and the name of Jesus that we can be saved. What else does the Bible tell us about His name? The Word of God tells us that there is power in the name of Jesus. Jesus himself told His disciples (John 14:13-14)
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Wow! That is a lot of power that Jesus is giving to His disciples, isn’t it? Let’s take a look at that power put into practice by the disciples. A man who was lame from birth was begging outside one of the temple gates and had no idea that His life would forever be changed because of one name (Acts 3:6-7)
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
The man began leaping and jumping and the people were amazed by this, but Peter, being the extravert that he was, began telling them (Acts 3:12-16)
…Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
What a beautiful story, and I find it humorous that Peter holds their feet to the fire by calling them out with their guilt. He didn’t mince words. He said “you killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead.” But he also said that it was Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that healed the lame man.
And it wasn’t just healing that was accomplished through the name of Jesus. There was more power in His name. Jesus had appointed 72 other disciples and sent them ahead of Him to every town and place that He was about to go. And listen to what happened (Luke 10:17):
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
The name of Jesus has power over Satan! If you belong to Christ, the name of Jesus is a mighty weapon against the powers of darkness. Satan and his demons must submit to the name of Jesus because He has already won the war over evil. Does that mean that Satan cannot harm your body? Of course not. The Bible gives plenty of examples of Satan obtaining permission from God to cause us harm. But he cannot harm our souls. So if you believe that you are being attacked by Satan, either by temptation or by trials, resist him and call on the name of Jesus.
James, the brother of Jesus tells us to “resist the devil and he will flee from you. The Apostle Paul tells us (Romans 10:12-13):
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
So there is power over evil in the name of Jesus and there are blessings in the name of Jesus. We use the name of Jesus correctly far too seldom. Just as the name of God (Yahweh) has great power and should be used reverently, so should the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus should be on our lips for every decision we make and every trial we face. The name of Jesus should be on our minds far more than it is. If it were, we might react differently when we are tested and tried. We might respond a little different when our kids upset us or when our boss irks us. We might be more apt to be forgiving when we feel we have been wronged if the name and person of Jesus is the center of our thoughts.
Earlier, I said that I believe that everyone has an inkling that Jesus is Who He said He is. One day, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will have been spread over the whole earth. At some point, even those that chose not to listen to that still small voice calling them to Jesus will one day shout His name (Philippians 2:5-11):
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
One week from today, we will be remembering the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem and the people shouted His name and hailed Him as King. The elders told Jesus to ask the crowd to stop and He told them that if they were quiet, the very rocks would cry out.
One day every knee will bow. That’s every knee that has ever lived on this earth. Atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Scientologists, Jew, and Christian. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, whether they are bound for heaven or for hell. Every knee and every tongue.
Jesus. Say it with me. Jesus. He gave everything for you. Jesus. He is the author of life and He left heaven for you. Jesus. As the praise team comes, I’d like everyone to bow their heads for just a moment. I don’t know where you are with your relationship with Jesus, or if you even have one, but he is waiting for you to answer that still small voice. Don’t wait until it is too late and you’re one of those that will bow their knee and proclaim Him as Lord, only to regret how foolish it was not to answer Him when He called to you. Call His name today.
I want to repeat something that I heard Gloria Gaither recite over 40 years ago that still resonates in my heart:
*Jesus....The mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken,
raise the dead.
At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, and the lights of hope put in the eyes of a hopeless child.
At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turn to love and forgiveness, arguments cease.
I've heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious from fever, and watched... as that little body grew quiet, and fevered brow cooled.
I've sat at the side of a dying saint. Her body wracked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength, just to whisper Earth's sweetest name, ‘Jesus...Jesus....’
Emperors have tried to destroy it. Philosophers have tried to stamp it out.
Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the Earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet it still stands.
And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound, every voice of Adam's race, shall raise in one mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus.
For in that day, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess, that Jesus Christ is truly Lord.
You see, it was not by mere chance that caused the angel one night, long ago to say to a virgin maiden: His name, His name shall be called Jesus...Jesus...Jesus...
You know, there is still something, something about that name......
(Prayer)
*Gloria Gaither
