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What’s in a Name?

The words, “In the name of Jesus” are familiar to us, but what do they actually mean? Dave Maclure throws some light.

Bill Clinton, David Beckham, Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Jack the Ripper, Madonna, Julius Caesar, Our Father in Heaven.

Few of the people above have much in common with each other. Some do and some don’t. But one thing that they have in common is that (in most cases at least) you know who they are. As an observer aware of the identities behind these names, you are the thing they have in common. In reading that list your brain was forced to conjure up images, personality traits and characteristics of those people. For Nelson Mandela you would no doubt have thought of the now aging former South African president who led a fight against Apartheid. For David Beckham, you may have considered one of a variety of things: perhaps it is his wife you know most about, maybe his football skills, or simply the attractiveness of his legs. What about Madonna? Her name is only seven letters long yet we know exactly who she is. She is placed next to Julius Caesar in the list: the Queen of Pop versus the Emperor of Rome. Reading about Mother Theresa and then Jack the Ripper may have been confusing since the former person appeals to our sense of justice, peace and pacifism, whilst the other has a name, (a label, in fact, “the Ripper”) whose reputation is an antithesis. Reputation, indeed, is a key word here. Bill Clinton may have been a reasonable president with a sound economic policy but one name — that of a certain Ms M. Lewinsky — will ensure that his reputation — that is, his name — will never be completely salvaged.

What about the last name in the list? Some of you may have been disturbed to see it included at all.

The first line of the Lord’s Prayer reads: “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name” and the Bible tells us much about the authority, reputation, power and identity of the God who bears this name, and in the human presentation of his name: his son Jesus Christ.

In one place we read that at this name “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10). In another place we hear about a crippled man healed because of the power “in the name” (Acts 3:5–7). Solomon decided to build a huge temple for “the name” (1 Kings 5:4–6). We are also told that this is “the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9). As the Creator of the universe, the sustainer of life, the author of salvation, the ruler of History and the ultimate being in space and time this name — the name of the one true God — deserves supremacy in everything. I wish I could go into detail in the way the Apostle Paul does concerning these amazing truths. It is better you read about it for yourselves, for example in Colossians 1:15–23. The Psalms too talk of the premier place of God (for example in 11, 103 or 104).

The Bible also talks about “Christians”, the people who subscribe to the name. These are people whose names are written in a book kept in heaven (Hebs 12:22–24). Being called a “Christians” is the highest calling since we belong, are identified with, and will one day eternally dwell with God, our Father. Furthermore, we have a "living hope" of this truth — Christ in us, the Holy Spirit. A communion of believers can hold onto the promise that Jesus gave: “when two or three meet in my name, there am I with them” (Matt 18:19–20). Suffering because of the name is a joy and an honour to the Christian. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples and later a martyr, continually emphasised the blessings that would flow to a believer who suffered for the name (1 Peter).

The key to unlocking what this means for us comes when “ Christ” meets “Christian”. This occurred at the cross. The cross is the signature, the seal, the stamp of the name. It is the ultimate statement of the reputation of God as Love. It is his supremacy and fullness in perfect sacrifice on our behalf in the person of Jesus. At Christ's complete expense, we inherit the benefits, glory and honour, we are transformed, we move from death to life and we are labelled with a beautiful new identity. As John tells us in his first letter: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (1 John 1:11–13).

Too often in secular society the name of Jesus is not afforded the praise it is deserved. In fact, no human can ever express effectively the supremacy of God but when people casually swear, misuse Christ’s name or in any way diminish his power, love and sacrifice they are committing one of the greatest acts of universal untruth. This magazine is called Christis. Its name suggests that those who contribute to its pages are making statements on what or who Christ is. Let us never take that task lightly.

As Easter approaches, we need to focus our attention back to the power of the name in the gift of the cross.

Dave Maclure

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Last modified: 25th November 2005