That Name

September 20

The old song says, “…Jesus, there’s just something about that name.” And there is. There is a reason that name is uttered by men of faith when they are in desperate straits. There is a reason profane men spew that wonderful name like a cuss word when they are angry. From one end of the spectrum of belief to the other, there is uniqueness to the name, Jesus.

The Lord Himself promised, “Ask anything in My name believing, and it shall be done,” John 16:23, 24, 26. There is power in the name of the Holy One who came to absolve men of sin and to enable them to live holy lives. Because of that truth, people who trust in Jesus, lift every prayer before the Throne of God in that holy name.

Philippians 2:9-11 gives further explanation of the power of Jesus’ name. It says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men…” Jesus laid claim to Godhood.

It was neither a presumption nor usurpation on His part to do so. He was; He is, God. But for our sake, He laid aside His deity to become the sinless man who lived the perfect life we are incapable of living—that through His obedience to His own law in our behalf we might be accounted righteous. That name, Jesus, makes us holy and wholly His if we will believe.