"In Jesus' Name"
What does the phrase, "in Jesus' name" actually mean? Could it mean, "I'm doing this for Jesus," or "this is in remembrance of Him?" Does it have significance, or is it simply a ritual without meaning? My first public job was working on the construction of I-40 through Knoxville, TN. It began one morning in the Spring of 1961 at what is now the "Papermill Road" exit. There was nothing there but the outline of what would become the new Interstate. My first assignment was to take a water truck down to the big curve now known as the I-75/I-40 split (about 14 miles) to where the rest of the machinery was parked. At the time nothing had been done in that area to indicate there would ever be an I-75. Having grown up on a farm I could operate nearly all the big farm equipment, but had never seen machines as large as these. Some of the excavators had monstrous engines on each end and weighed approximately 200 tons. The tires were taller than a man, 3 feet wide, and cost more than a new Cadillac. Working around these machines and occasionally hitching a ride was quite an experience for an 18 year old farm boy. My job was to operate the water truck, and to help the excavators by keeping the top of the "blue top stakes visible." (These stakes established the lay of the highway). I worked with these men every day, and would often tease them during our lunch hour. For instance, (5 minutes before time to go back to work) I might playfully say, "I'm the boss and I think it's time to get back to work." or even worse, quote something the boss had actually said, "hopefully we can get a little more done than we have the past few days." This would usually bring a big dirt clod zinging by, or more often than not, one of them would get up and chase me. Most of the time they couldn't catch me, but when they did would just wrestle me to the ground. But it was all in fun and I would do it again at the next opportunity. One morning a new boss showed up. He was a construction engineer awaiting a job that was soon to open in South America. In the meanwhile he would help out on this job, and I was to be his "helper." Most of my new job consisted of running errands, (sometimes to get him a cold drink or a candy bar at the nearest store). We became friends and he invited me to go with him to work on the upcoming job in South America, but still only 18 years old I had other things in mind. So what does this have to do with the phrase, "in Jesus' name?" As completion time drew near, the work schedule become very intense. One morning the Federal Highway Inspectors discovered a mistake in the grade level several miles back. It was still only dirt, but was scheduled to be paved in the near future, so the mistake had to be corrected right away. The boss called me over and told me that he could not leave what he doing and that I was to take his truck and go to where the heavy operators were working. I was to tell them to stop their work immediately and hurry to this designated area (about three miles away); that there would be engineers waiting there to tell them what needed to be done. "Sure," I said, "I know exactly where they are." But along the way I began to wonder, would they listen to the youngest employee on the payroll, so young he wasn't allowed to even drive their machines; the one they had teased, wrestled, and tossed mud clods at? After all, these types of moves were usually planned days and sometimes weeks in advance, and were very expensive.
Still struggling with these thoughts I found the crew and delivered the message. To my surprise they didn't tease, jokingly throw anything at me, or even ask questions, just simply got on their machines and hurried off to the new assignment I had given them. In less than 5 minutes from the time of my arrival they were almost out of sight. There, still in the dust, diesel smoke, and fading roar of the engines, I began to understand. They had listened because I was driving the bosses personal truck (with his name written on the side). I was delivering the message "in his name." His power and authority were behind my every word and action. So it is with Jesus name. "Jesus" is more than "a name," He is our Lord and Master, His name is above every name, His power and authority are above every other power and authority in Heaven and on earth. And:
When acting and speaking in the name of my boss, I was in the physical world. When we act and speak in Jesus' name we are operating in the supernatural spiritual world with the Holy Spirit and all the powers of Heaven to back our prayers, words and actions. Blessings, Samuel Mills There are many very good in depth studies regarding speaking in Jesus' Name. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the significance and manner in which Jesus intended for His name to be used.
In Jesus' Name |