253. Power in the name.

"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one."* ( John 17:11) Unlike our names which might have a meaning but no purpose, the name that was given to the Son of God was a *NAME WITH A PURPOSE* as well as with a meaning. *"You are to give him the name Jesus, BECAUSE he will save his people from their sins."* ( Jesus’ name in Hebrew is *Yehoshua,* which, over time, became shortened to *Yeshua,* both of which means *“the Lord is salvation.”* From *Yeshua* we get the Greek transliteration *Iesous,* which was later transliterated into Latin as *Iesus* The English Bible eventually changed the *Y* sound of the Latin *I* to the letter *J* and now we have the name, *Jesus.* Why did the Apostles write the Gospel in Greek instead of Aramaic or Hebrew ? Why did they think that it was not necessary to retain the original form of Lord's Hebrew name: *Yeshua HaMashiach?* They realised the universal appeal of the gospel and believed that the meaning of that name in the translated language mattered more than the original pronunciation of that name in Hebrew. If the Apostles didn't have a problem transliterating that name, what is the problem with the Hebrew fanatics of this age who denounce the English Bible and demonize the name 'Jesus' ? ) The name of the Son of God not only has a purpose, but it is also a *NAME WITH A POSITION* *'far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.'* ( Ephesians 1:21) *'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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'* ( Philippians 2:9-11) The name of *Jesus* not only has a *PURPOSE* and *POSITION* but it is also a *NAME WITH POWER.* The name is backed by God's power because he has *'exalted above all things his NAME and his WORD.'* ( Psalm 138:2) Therefore, when *'the WORD became flesh and made his dwelling among us',* He was given this exalted *NAME* . That is why Jesus said, *"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me."* ( John 17:12) That name not only has the power to keep us safe but also to save us! Filled with the Spirit, Peter said to his hearers: *"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."* ( Acts 4:12) *'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'* ( Joel 2:32) It just takes a call on the name of the Lord to stay out of hell but it takes more than that to enter heaven because *"unless a man is born again, he will not enter the kingdom of heaven."* (John 3:3,5) *"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."* ( Matthew 7:21) Let's call on his name not only to be saved from hell but also to experience this life transforming power in the name of Jesus, that we might become like him and be one with him. Amen.