DAY 2: There’s Power in the Name of Jesus – Part 1

The Bible is full of references that tell us there is power in the name of Jesus. It enables our salvation, deliverance, and sanctification. What does the name of Jesus mean? The name Jesus is a Greek male name meaning “Saviour”. Our Lord and “Saviour” or “Savior”, by being faithful to the task given to Him, humbling Himself, even becoming obedient to the point of death and volunteering to die for the sins of many, God exalted Jesus Christ by giving power to the name of Jesus Christ. We acknowledge Him as our Deliverer, Liberator, Protector, Redeemer or Rescuer. For, the name of Jesus is the most powerful name there is. God gave Jesus the “name that is above every name.” “Therefore God also 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 (NKJV).

Why is His name so powerful? It is because of the sacrifice He made in life and on the Cross – through living a perfect life, dying a sinner’s death, and being resurrected.

Jesus made a way for all of humanity to be saved and made right with God: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:12–13 (NKJV). The literal name “Jesus” is not inherently powerful; it is powerful because of Jesus Christ, the person, God incarnate, who made a way for our salvation. When we talk about the name of Jesus, we are talking about Jesus Himself, His character and the things He does. “Acts 4:12(NKJV).

Any power attributed to the name of Jesus originates in the Person of Jesus. When we “believe in Jesus’ name,” we are trusting in the finished work of the risen Christ on the cross. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” 1 John 5:13 (NKJV). Jesus is not a magical or mystical word. There is nothing special about the arrangement of the letters in His name. If, Jesus was not God in the flesh who lived a perfect life, who died for the sins of all that would believe, and rose again, we wouldn’t even be talking about His name. Any power that Christians access in Jesus’ name comes from true faith in who Jesus is and what He does for sinners.

For example, if we apply the Power in the Name of Jesus as or like a policeman that uses a badge. A policeman can step out into traffic and stop all the cars. They are not physically using their strength to make sure the cars don’t move, but as they stand, they’re confident in their protection because of the authority that comes with the badge they wear. They know if the cars don’t stop, a greater authority will come down on that driver and enforce the demands of the police officer. “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” Colossians 2:13–15 (NKJV).

The obstacles we face may test us, seeing if we believe there is power in the name we proclaim. However, we can trust God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit to come to our assistance at the sound of Jesus’ name. God is true to His promises and will do what He says. We don’t have to utter the right words; we just have to or need to say jus one: Jesus.

There is no magical power in the name of Jesus—there is only power in Jesus Christ, Himself. By simply calling out the name of “Jesus,” one cannot anticipate special power, consequence, or better standing with God without believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” Matthew 1:21 (NKJV). Our Savior is more than a great teacher, more than an enlightened man, more than a worker of miracles, more than a source of meaning in life, more than a self–help guru, more than a self–esteem builder, more than a political liberator, more than a caring friend, more than a transformer of cultures, more than a purpose for the purposeless, for Jesus is the Savior of sinners.

By engaging the power in the name of Jesus, we are calling to mind the victory Jesus won for us. Paul tells us that Jesus was given this name because of His leaving heaven, coming to earth, and dying on the cross. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, God gave Him the most powerful name there is. He was humble, obedient, and loved us. In showing us this greater love, He was given the name above any other name. A person’s name represents who they are – their essence and character. Jesus is the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, and the way, the truth, and the life. He is the embodiment of God and of love. The name of Jesus conveys all of these meanings with it.

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” John 8:12 (NKJV).