The
young man’s blazing fast ball and treacherous curve ball provoked an amazed baseball scout to whisper our Savior’s name. But he wasn't saying it as
a prayer.
I
wonder sometimes why Jesus’ name is used as a curse so frequently. Maybe in a
weird way it’s a twisted acknowledgement of His deity. (Does anybody curse by
saying “Oh, Buddha!” Or, “Mo-HAM-med!”)
The
name of Jesus is important to Christians for all sorts of reasons. It is the
name we love the most, the name that we cling to when things go wrong, the name
we whisper when we feel afraid, the name we shout when we worship, the name we softly
pray over our sleeping children, the name we clasp to our hearts when we face
sickness and death. Jesus. Our Jesus.
But why is His name so precious to us? Well, Jesus means “Savior,” so every time we say it we’re preaching the gospel to ourselves. Here are a few other verses that explain why we hold His name so dear. (The bold is my emphasis.)
- Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14) His name is infinitely precious to the Father, too!
- And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Only His name, and no other.
- Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (Acts 5:41) It is a privilege to be associated with His name, even if that means suffering.
- To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43) When Paul spoke to Cornelius and his friends, he had the privilege of telling them that forgiveness of their sins was within reach – but only through Jesus!
- And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. (Acts 16:18) Demons tremble at His name.
- Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 21:13) He is worthy to live for and to die for.
- For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13) His grace is more than enough for anyone who calls upon Him.
- Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Such were some of you! Transformed by the power of His name.
- so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:12) We live to glorify His name.
- Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews 13:15) We cannot really worship apart from His name.
- Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14) There is healing in His name!
- If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14) His name gives us courage even when we’re persecuted.
- And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (1 John 3:23) Believing in His name is not only a privilege, but it is a command.
- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13) We have assurance of heaven in His name.
And those are some
of the reasons God assures us that one day all creatures, all humanity, all
angels all of heaven and earth, will thunder to the praise of His name.
Therefore God has
highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
