The Name Of Jesus

The Name of Jesus

Acts 4:18-31

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Good Morning everyone, Glad that you have joined us this morning.

Please turn to Acts chapter 4:18-31 Read from Bible clearly

The sermon title is “The name of Jesus” - To most, the name of Jesus will get our attention. We know that name carries weight if we are one who reads their bible or has been taught from the bible what Jesus did and who Jesus is.

What’s in a name? Typically, we use names to distinguish one person from another.

We all cannot all be named Bob or we could not communicate with each other.

We would not know who was talking and who was to be listening.

Most cases our names do not have much meaning to us in the Western Culture.

Our last name makes us part of a clan.

Any meaning attached to a name is either unknown to the person or the person is not concerned with the meaning of their name.

Here in the West, we name our children with certain names because the name sounds neat or because the name has some sentimental value to us.

My case, Anthony is usually an Italian name of which I am not…but when your mother liked the actor Tony Curtis, you get the name Anthony.

Some of you are so young you have never heard of that actor.

He was good looking, charming, and great speaking voice, intelligent. I guess she knew ahead of time how I would turn out. (Ha Ha)

However, in Eastern cultures, especially in biblical times, Jewish people attached much greater significance to names.

To the Jews, a person's name signifies worth, character, reputation, authority, and ownership.

Apostle Paul records under the power of the Holy Spirit about the name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that was 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 is Lord.”

Peter and John were preaching Jesus, as the Christ.

Peter and John were teaching about Jesus’ resurrection.

The religious leaders grabbed the men and kept them in custody until morning, interrogating them about Jesus being preached.

Then they learned from Peter Jewish history that Jesus was the rejected Cornerstone.

Peter said, “You have rejected the foundational leader of the nation and your heritage, His name is Jesus, and by His name this miracle was performed.”

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, immediately began boldly and confidently speaking about the Cross and the Gospel.

The religious leaders forbade the Disciples from sharing Christ.

Then Peter and John were forbidden to discuss the name of Jesus.

Teach in the Name of Jesus

Read Acts 4:18

Why were these leaders forbidding teaching in Jesus’ name?

In the original language, this command from the religious leaders was forceful. They basically said, under no circumstances are you to teach in the name of Jesus again!

Remember Peter’s statement

Acts 4:12-

Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The name of Jesus is the most powerful name that has ever existed or will exist; however, any power that comes from the name of Jesus originates and comes from the person of Jesus.

There is nothing magical in the name of Jesus without the actual person of Jesus, God the Son.

Some people think they can invoke the name of Jesus and demand their own will to be done because of a magic formula of simply using His name.

There are false religions that use the name of Jesus without believing in the “real” Jesus, so their Jesus is not powerful.

The Hebrew name for Jesus is Jeshua or Joshua, and there are many people in history with that name who do not possess the power of Jesus, God the Son.

John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Notice what Jesus said, “Except through me” so the person of Jesus is where the power lies.

The saving, healing, protecting, justifying, and redeeming power of God resides in the Person of Christ, and Jesus is His name.

Jesus laid down His life to save sinners, and He exercised His authority to raise it up again, so that any who call on His name in faith can receive forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation”

Jesus’ power was fully displayed when He finished the work of redemption on the Cross at Calvary and again as He raised Himself back to life again.

John 2:19

"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."