In Jesus Name
When I was about eight years old my parents took a trip to Germany, leaving me and my older brother in the care of our grandmother at her home in the Chicago suburbs. We had the best week. We climbed the weeping willow tree in her backyard. We harvested raspberries from her bushes to transform them into creamy raspberry custard pie. We flipped through old photo albums and heard story after story of our family members far and wide. We played for hours in the basement, finding childhood treasures left behind by our aunts and uncles. But the best part of our time at Grandma’s was visiting her brother’s dairy farm.
I remember climbing up mountains of hay bales, snuggling baby kittens, and chasing after chickens. I remember my Great Uncle Leroy walking me up and down the aisle of the milking stalls. (I also remember the smell, but let’s keep this positive.) I was especially drawn to the crowds of holsteins, (those are the black and white cows, for those of you that don’t speak, um, cow). They were such gentle creatures, never in a hurry, content to roam the pasture without a care in the world. Apparently, my newfound love for the cows was evident, because when a calf was born later that day, my Great Aunt and Uncle named it after me: Anne Marie. For years afterward I received letters from the farm with updates on my namesake. I’ve never forgotten it.
My fourth grader has been learning about famous explorers in school, and she’s been telling me about all the monuments and landmarks she knows of that are named after said explorers. She recently asked me if I’d ever had anything named after me. I proudly told her the story of Anne Marie, the Holstein. She stared at me, unimpressed: “Okay but not like, a road or a river or a library or anything cool?” I refuse to let her throw a wet blanket on the single greatest honor of my life. I’ll have you know cows are cool, and sweet Anne Marie was the coolest of them all, (God rest her soul).
What we choose to name someone, (or after someone), is a big decision. My husband and I agonized for months over what to name each of our children. We wanted their names to be meaningful, intentional, and representative of who we hoped they would become. Plus they had to sound easy on the ear when placed next to our very unusual-sounding last name. Some names evoke awe, admiration, and even fear. Others sound boring or unassuming. And how many celebrity baby names have you heard that leave you feeling positively confused? We can judge all we want, but the fact is we have no idea who those children will grow up to be. Some of the most unconventionally named people could turn out to be world changers (think Oprah) or they could just as well be telemarketers, and someone who shares a name with thousands of others could be the next big thing. (Need I list the number of famous people named John?) It’s not the name that defines them after all, it’s what they do with it.
The name of Jesus isn’t a household name because of its uniqueness. Did you know Jesus was one of the most common names among men in Israel? How many boys looked up when they heard a mother calling for Jesus? Another guy named Jesus, a carpenter no less, could have easily gotten lost in the crowd.
Up until just a few days ago, my six-year-old son ended all of his prayers with, “In this name, Amen.” It was sort of adorable. There are very few words left he mispronounces and since it let me hold on to his babyhood a tiny bit longer, I didn’t correct him until recently. I told him it’s actually, “In Jesus name,” to conclude a prayer. When he asked me why, I was immediately reminded of Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Jesus’ name is the only name that saves. No one could do for mankind what Jesus did. Common though His name was, it was Jesus who healed, resurrected, drove out demons, and forgave sins. Later His disciples could do the same by using His name. Jesus’ name holds power. There is no other name like His. Jesus himself said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it,” (John 14:12-14). Do you pray for comfort? For healing? For guidance? For forgiveness? For a miracle? Ask for it in Jesus’ name. Believe in the power His name holds. Then watch what happens.
What do you feel when hearing the name Jesus? We read throughout the Gospels of the crowds that followed Jesus, the people who bent over backward just to see Him, touch Him, to ask Him for just one thing. They were the believers. But others feared Him, felt threatened by Him, misunderstood Him, and even wanted to kill Him. They wanted nothing to do with Him. Not much has changed, has it? No matter what you believe about Jesus, no matter where you stand in your faith or lack thereof, the truth is He died for you as much as He died for me.
I am no more deserving of His sacrifice than you. God’s Son became the great equalizer for us all. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2: 5-8). In the end, we will all be declaring the name of Jesus. We will all be humbled before the only One who has the power to save us. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is 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 Christ is lord, to the glory of God the Father,” (v.9-11). What a glorious day that will be.
A dear friend recently sent me a message containing a beautiful song by Katy Nichole called, “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)”. She simply said, “Praying this song over you this morning!” As I listened to the song I felt so emboldened. The words reminded me that where Jesus is, darkness flees. My fear, my weariness, my anxiousness all lose their hold when He is near.
“I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessings, every promise
He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater, He is stronger
He's the God of possible” (Nichole).
When we pray in Jesus name we are calling on the all-powerful God. We are invoking His authority as the Creator of the Universe. Let’s not forget what’s possible. “In Jesus name” isn’t just lip service. To say it is to believe it.
My son Justice is still breaking his old habit of praying. Every time I hear him say, “In this name,” I interrupt him to ask, “In whose name?” He smiles, “Oh right! In Jesus’ name.”