In Jesus' Name?

“In Jesus’ name…” These are words common to our Christian lives. Many of us learned them as children saying grace before dinner. The phrase ends virtually every prayer we ever pray.

Unfortunately, like any other common word or phrase, there is the threat of it losing its meaning. So I started wondering, what does it really mean to ask or declare something “in Jesus’ name”?

I started looking back to experiences I had before I gave my life to God. I lived in some undesirable neighborhoods and had friends in worse ones.

I quickly learned the power of names. There were places I didn’t dare go on my own; but if I knew the right name, I suddenly had access, authority, and protection.

I had access because that name carried an authority my name did not. Now, before you start thinking this is too simplistic, I am not talking about a seven sons of Sceva kind of name-using.

You know the story: In Acts 19, we read the story of 7 guys who were trying to drive out demons “in the name of Jesus.” One demon wasn’t convinced these men really knew the Man behind the name they were using, and left them naked and bleeding.

I had two very specific reasons that I was able to utilize the authority of a name that carried more weight than my own. First, people knew I had the right to use it because they had seen me with that person. I could say, “I’m with Johnny,” and there was no refuting it, whether they liked me or not.

That leads to the second reason: under the protection of “Johnny’s” name, anyone who messed with me would answer to him, not me. I was not responsible for my own safety.

Obviously, in the world, this system is full of corruption and can fail. But it is a picture of the Kingdom of God that has given me a deeper understanding of what it is supposed to mean to use Jesus’ name.

When I am loyal to Jesus, He is loyal to me. That loyalty is seen not only by my friends, but also by my enemies. In the world, I might have to use different names, depending on the neighborhood I was visiting. But Jesus has demonstrated His authority over every city, every nation, every spirit.

I walk in protection no matter where I go because I am under a name that carries more authority than any other. When I pray about the evil and ugliness I see, I have a confidence that cannot be shaken.

I am not praying like a stranger stranded in a bad neighborhood at night.

In Jesus' name...