The Authority of the Name of Jesus
From the earliest days of the apostolic church, believers have invoked the name of Jesus as the center of divine power and presence. There is an authority vested in the name of Jesus, drawing from both Old and New Testament texts. His name has utter power and is a profound reality rooted in his person, work, and relationship to the Father.
The Old Testament Background: The Authority of Jesus’ Name
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the concept of “the name” carries deep significance. To act in someone’s name is to act with their authority and on their behalf. God’s name, in particular, is synonymous with his character, presence, and power. In Exodus 3:14-15, God reveals himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM,” and instructs Moses to tell the Israelites, “The LORD, the God of your fathers… has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” The name of God is a revelation of his being and authority.
The Psalms frequently exhort the faithful to trust in the name of the Lord (Psalm 20:7; 54:1), and the prophets declare that salvation and deliverance are found in calling upon God’s name (Joel 2:32). This Old Testament background sets the stage for the New Testament’s presentation of Jesus’ name as the new locus of divine authority.
The Name of Jesus in the Gospels
The Gospels present Jesus as one who possesses unique authority, both in his teaching and in his actions. The crowds are astonished because he teaches “as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:29). This authority is not self-derived but is given by the Father (John 5:27). Jesus’ authority extends over sickness, demons, nature, and even sin (Mark 2:10-12).
Jesus himself speaks of the power and authority associated with his name. In John 14:13-14, he promises his disciples, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Prayer in his name is an invocation of his authority and alignment with his will and character. The power in the name of Jesus allows us to participate in his ongoing work and relationship with the Father.
The Name of Jesus in Acts: The Apostolic Witness
The book of Acts provides the most vivid demonstrations of the authority of Jesus’ name in the life of the early church. After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles consistently invoke his name as the source of their power and mission. In Acts 3, Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate, declaring, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). When questioned by the religious authorities, Peter boldly proclaims, “By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by him this man is standing before you well” (Acts 4:10).
Jesus gave us all authority to pray in his name. The narrative underscores that the name of Jesus is not to be taken lightly. It is the very presence and authority of the risen Lord. The apostles’ authority is derivative; it flows from their relationship with Jesus and their commission by him. This is shown in Acts 19:13-16, where Jewish exorcists attempt to use the name of Jesus without a relationship with him. The evil spirit responds, “‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?’ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” We see that the authority of Jesus’ name is not available apart from faith and submission to him. We must have a relationship with Jesus and surrender our faulty control to his perfect power.
The Name Above Every Name
Paul’s epistles provide the theological support for the authority of Jesus’ name. In Philippians 2:9-11, Paul writes, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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.” The exaltation of Jesus and the bestowal of the supreme name are the result of his obedience unto death and then his victory in resurrection. The authority of his name is thus inseparable from his person and redemptive work.
The name of Jesus is also central to the doctrine of salvation. Peter declares before the Sanhedrin, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Salvation is not found in ritual, law, or human effort, but in the person and work of Jesus, accessed through faith in his name.
The Authority of Jesus’ Name in Prayer and Worship
The authority of the name of Jesus permeates the entire life of the church, especially in prayer and worship. Jesus instructs his disciples to pray in his name (John 16:23-24), promising that the Father will answer such prayers. This is not a guarantee of receiving exactly what we desire, but it’s surrendering to God’s perfect plan above our idea of it. It’s an invitation to pray in alignment with Jesus’ will and mission.
Paul exhorts the Colossians, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). The calling of Jesus’ name is to characterize every aspect of our life, signifying that all is to be done under his authority and for his glory.
Worship, too, is centered on the name of Jesus. The author of Hebrews urges, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15). The church’s praise is directed to God through Jesus, acknowledging his unique role as mediator and Lord.
The Name of Jesus in Spiritual Warfare
The name of Jesus is the decisive weapon in spiritual conflict. Jesus himself gave authority to his disciples to cast out demons in his name (Luke 10:17). The early church continued this practice, as seen in Acts 16:18, where Paul commands a spirit to come out of a slave girl “in the name of Jesus Christ.” The authority of Jesus’ name is effective because it is backed by his victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15).
However, as the episode in Acts 19 demonstrates, the authority of Jesus’ name is not a tool to be wielded apart from genuine faith and relationship with him. The power resides not in the syllables of the name, but in the person to whom it refers and the faith of those who invoke it.
Conclusion - Jesus Gave Us All Authority
The authority in the name of Jesus contains profound truth and power. It’s rooted in the Old Testament understanding of the name as the locus of authority and presence, fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that Jesus’ name is the supreme name, the only name by which salvation is found, and the name through which believers are empowered for prayer, worship, mission, and spiritual warfare.
To invoke the name of Jesus is to acknowledge his lordship, trust in his saving work, and participate in his ongoing mission. It is not a magical formula, but a confession of faith and a submission to his authority. As the church continues to proclaim and live in the name of Jesus, it bears witness to the reality that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).