The Power of the Name
Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts … Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. Acts 3:2,6,7
There is extraordinary authority in the name of Jesus.
The thought of a name having power is unusual today. A very pale imitation is when an important figure might tell you to mention their name to be given some preferential treatment.
But in the world of Acts 3 names often carried another kind of power. To invoke a name was to sometimes invite supernatural powers. In the case of Jesus’ name, that supernatural power is the power of the one true God. Any other name invites powers that are not the one true God. The recognition that the name of Jesus carries supernatural power will be behind the Jewish Council demanding Peter and John ‘not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus’ (Acts 4:17,18).
John’s gospel strongly emphasises the need to pray in Jesus’ name (John 14:13,14;15:16;16:24)
Casting out demons was done in Jesus’ name (Mark 16:17)
Healing the sick followed prayer in Jesus’ name (Acts 3:6,16)
Notice too from our starting text that this miracle happened, not in the centre of the actual temple, but at one of the entrance gates. This was officially “outside” the temple.
The temple was seen by the Jewish leaders as the not just the centre of God’s presence in the nation but the only place of His presence in the nation. The temple was to the Jews where God’s sphere of presence and earth’s sphere overlapped.
But ‘the Most High does not live in houses made by men’ (Acts 7:47). God’s presence, as in Ezekiel 10, had left the temple.
We have the privilege of carrying the lovely and powerful name of Jesus. Don’t ever confine that name to a church meeting. Take that name out onto the streets and into your everyday world.
Pray in Jesus’ name and see your God in action
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