In Hebrew thought, inferiors were hesitant to speak the name of a superior. Note how Nathan often referred to David as "my lord, the king" instead of using his name. On two occasions, angels refused to reveal their names - when Jacob wrestled with the angel in Genesis 32:19 and when Samson's birth was announced in Judges 13:17-18.
When one is regarded as holy, his name must be regarded as holy. This is especially true of the name of God. Matthew nearly always uses the expression, "kingdom of heaven" instead of "kingdom of God." Since he was writing to Jewish people, he was probably substituting heaven for God to avoid unnecessary use of the Divine Name.
We are reminded of the unutterable name for God (YHWH) that the Jews would not pronounce out of fear that they might use it disrespectfully. Instead, they substituted another word for it (adonay, "lord"). The man who blasphemed the Name during the wilderness wandering was stoned to death (Leviticus 24:11).
In similar fashion, to honor the name is to honor the person. In what we call the model prayer, Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "Hallowed by thy name" (Matthew 6:9 NASV). Many occurrences, especially in the Psalms, illustrate this fact. For example, notice Psalm 111:9 - "Holy and awesome is his name" is another way of saying that God is holy and awesome.
The importance of the name of Christ
The preeminent name in the New Testament is the name of Christ. "Therefore also God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." (Philippians 2:9-10). Christ is seated "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named" (Ephesians 1:21).
It was in the name of Christ that great miracles were performed. Peter told the lame man at the temple, "In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!" (Acts 3:6). When asked later by what power or in what name he had done this, Peter replied, "... by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene ... by this name this man stands here before you in good health" (Acts 4:10). Jesus told the disciples that no one is able to do a miracle in his name and then afterward to speak evil of him (Mark 9:30).
The preeminent name of Christ also denotes ownership. We know that those who wear the name of Christ are his because he has his name on them. Designations for the early church were given, not so much to give the church a title but to show that they belonged to Christ. This is apparent in expressions such as the church of Christ (Romans 16:16), the church of the Lord (Acts 20:28) and the church of the Lord Jesus Christ (I Thessalonians 1:1). Not any of these served as "the name" by which the church should be called, but they identified the One to whom the church belonged.
Christ's disciples are honored by being called Christians after the preeminent name, Christ. ". . .The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian (Acts 26:28). Those who suffered as a Christian were to glorify God in that name (I Peter 4:16). What an honor for any person to wear a name that shows that they belong to the preeminent Christ!
The importance of His name to us
Not only are we honored by being called by the preeminent name, but all that we do in this life is to be done in his name. Before baptism, the eunuch confessed that "Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). In order for one to be saved, he must confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9). In fact, the acknowledgment of the preeminent name was known as "The Good Confession" (I Timothy 6:12-13).
The early Christians were baptized in the name of Christ. Peter commanded the Jews on Pentecost to be baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). He also commanded the first Gentile converts, the household of Cornelius, to be "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:48).
Jesus himself told the disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). There is no contradiction here with the apostles' practice of baptizing in the name of Christ. "In the name of" means "by the authority of." To be baptized by the authority of Jesus is to be baptized as he directed, and that is "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
Not only do we confess the preeminent name and are baptized into that name, but we also worship in that name. Jesus himself said, "For where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst" (Matthew 18:20). The acceptable worship assembly is in his name. This occasion is sanctioned by the presence of the preeminent One himself.
Jesus instructed his disciples to pray in his name. The assurance that prayer will be heard is linked to their praying in his name -"And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do.... If you ask anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14). Jesus continued later in the same discourse with the apostles, "... Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you" (John 15:16).
Not only our worship, but also our ministry to others must be given in the name of Christ. Jesus said, "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward" (Mark 9:41). The expression literally reads, "in a name that you are Christ's."
The purpose of our lives is to glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16). Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). The brethren at Colosse were exhorted, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).
Yes, and even our suffering is to be in his name. Christ had warned the apostles that they would suffer for his name. In the Limited Commission, he told them, "And you will be hated by all on account of my name..." (Matthew 10:22). When Jesus warned the apostles of the impending disaster associated with the destruction of the temple, he said, "You will be hated by all nations on account of my name" (Matthew 24:9).
The early disciples rejoiced in persecution, not simply because they were being persecuted, but because they were being persecuted for the name of Christ - "rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). "By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God" (I Peter 4:15-16).
Finally, we are saved by the name of Christ. Long before the New Testament era, Joel predicted, "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered" (Joel 2:32). This is applied to the New Testament church by Peter (Acts 2:21) and by Paul (Romans 10:13).
No more emphatic statement could be found than that of Peter before the council in Acts 4:12 - "And 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." Not only can the name of Christ save us, but it is the only name that can save us.
Conclusion
We honor the preeminent Name, and in doing so, we honor the preeminent One. All we do must be done in his name. Our only hope in this life and the next is in the name.
Thro' him our first fond prayers are said
Our lips of childhood frame;
The last low whispers of our dead
Are burdened with his name.(John Greenleaf Whittier)
[Used by permission of Church & Family magazine, published by the Institute for Church & Family at Harding University]
This item originally appeared in Church & Family, Vol. 1, No. 3 (Spring 1999)
