Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … Matthew 28:19
I’m a modern-day American and – just to be honest with you – I had no idea what it meant when Jesus told us to do stuff in His name. I didn’t know what He meant when He said to God, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world” (John 17:6). What in the world does it mean to manifest someone’s name?
I was taught from the pulpit that the name meant God’s authority in the same way that a police badge represents governmental authority backing up a law officer’s actions. If that is the case, then why didn’t Jesus say in my authority do this and that? While the idea of authority may be part of the meaning, that explanation just didn’t feel complete to me. I felt like there was something deeper.
Have you ever given up on understanding something in scripture? I gave up on grasping the true meaning behind the name. I figured there must be some significance tied to name that the ancient people understood and that modern readers didn’t. These mysteries would become clear in heaven, I thought.
Recently, I decided to explore Michael Heiser’s book, The Unseen Realm. In Chapter 31, he explains that name simply means essence or presence. Finally! An explanation that made sense to me. With Heiser’s insight, I could understand John 17:6 this way. I have manifested Your presence and essence to my disciples. Because I understand God as a person who enjoys a warm relationship with His people, replacing the word name with His presence and essence made sense. Jesus is saying that His every action expressed who God the Father really is.
When we call upon the name of the Lord, we are inviting His presence into our all joys and all our struggles. We are asking to become one with His very essence.
Let’s call on His name today and invite His presence into every moment. Please pray with me.
Lord God, Creator of all,
I invite You into my life. Be present with me. Fill every area of my life with Your essence. As I walk through this life, help me feel Your presence. Help me know that we are always together.
In Jesus’ name (His essence and presence), I pray. Amen.
To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
God bless and keep you,
Susan
Photo by Vlada Karpovich
