There's Power In His Name

Note: This entry is the first in a series taken from Acts 4 in The Bible.

In Acts 4 we have the account of Peter and John being placed in jail because the priests and Sadducees were “greatly disturbed because they [Peter and John] were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (4:2). The next day the religious leaders call for Peter and John to appear before them. The interrogation begins: “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (4:7). [By way of background, in Acts 3 we discover that Peter had instructed a lame man with these words: “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (3:6). And this lame man walked! These are the circumstances leading up to the religious leaders’ interrogation of Peter and John.] Before we explore this story any further, it is important to understand that ultimately the religious leaders had a problem with Peter and John speaking “in the name of Jesus Christ.” It is quite clear that the name of Jesus has provoked countless people down through the centuries—yes, religious leaders included! Sadly, the same is true today.

But I have a question for you: what does the name of Jesus mean to you? If you have come by faith to know Him personally as your Savior and Lord then His name means everything to you—after all, He is your very life! However, if you have not come by faith to know Him personally then His name may not mean much to you. It may be just another name or the name that you call out in a moment of rage. But we would all do well to consider the importance of the name of Jesus. In Peter’s response to these religious leaders, he stated, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The “name” to which Peter was referring is Jesus Christ. The truth is that salvation cannot be found in any other name but in the name of Jesus Christ. It was the name of Jesus that allowed a lame man to walk again. It is the name of Jesus that brought salvation to me and countless millions around the world. There is power in His name! Have you come to know Him personally as your Savior and Lord? Jesus Himself stated, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). The Apostle Paul makes it clear: “We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done” (Romans 3:22, NLT). There’s power in His name!

By the way, one last thought for us who are believers in Christ Jesus: are we bringing glory to the name of Jesus by what we say with our lips and by the way we live our lives? Think about it!