The Name (17)

As I contemplate this chapter, I realize the subject before me is one that to cover completely would take several chapters… even an entire book!  We have already addressed the use of Jesus’ name in baptism as one “calls on the name of the Lord”. For the purpose of this writing we will somewhat limit our considerations to that single application along with a few general thoughts about the name that is above all names!

To reinforce its essentiality in the salvation experience and its integral part of the gospel we can start with a statement from the apostle Peter.  “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4: 11-12) 

Again, the teaching of Paul, the preaching of Peter, and the prophecy of Joel all say “Whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved”.  Combining that with the example of Paul’s baptism in Acts 22 where it is told to him to call on the name of the Lord “washing away thy sins”, the conclusion must be made that baptism, remission of sins, and the authority of the name of Jesus all combine when the sinner, who has repented of his sins, is buried symbolically with Christ in the watery grave.

As we have observed, every instance of someone being baptized in the New Testament Church was in the name of the Lord Jesus.  While this is only a brief consideration of the subject of the saving name, there is one point in scripture that may tend to be somewhat confusing if it is not understood. 

It is found in the last chapter of Matthew.  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”   (Matthew 28: 19)

While all the scriptural examples of baptism reveal that the name of Jesus is the only name ever used, the majority of churches have elected to use the “formula” in Matthew of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Again, to understand how to rectify the apparent difference we should start with the context of the verse in question.

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  And when they saw him, they worshipped him:  but some doubted.”  (Matthew 28: 16-17)  

The disciples worshipped Jesus… but some doubted.  Two questions must be answered if we are to fully comprehend our passage:  Why would they worship Jesus?  And, what did some doubt?

The disciples were all Jews who, no doubt, believed what is known as the “shama” (the Hebrew word translated “Hear”). “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one LORD.”   (Deuteronomy 6:4)  They also would have known the first of the Ten Commandments, which forbid them from worshipping any other God but the LORD (Jehovah). 

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  (Exodus 20: 3)

It is obvious then, for the disciples to worship Jesus they would have to recognize Him as God (in flesh… human form).  This, then, is the answer to our first question; they worshipped because they believed Him to be the incarnate God.

This brings us to the second question:  What did they doubt?  At this point it is evident that some were not sure of His deity.  The next statement of Jesus addresses their concerns.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”  (Verse 18)  Only God has all power and as deity in human form, Jesus had been given all power.  To totally eliminate confusion from their thinking he spoke to them, as was his method, in parabolic form.  (In other words, they would need to consider what He said by examining his statement more than in a superficial manner.)  What truth could be wrapped up in the following commission?

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Verses 19 & 20)

We must remember that some of the disciples were in doubt concerning who Jesus was… so He was aiding them by these words:  Let us consider them as well.

We have seen by numerous examples that these same disciples always baptized in the name of Jesus.  No one was ever baptized in the bible using the words that Jesus just spoke here in Matthew 28.  Is there a reason for this?  Of course.  Let us find out what it is.

The command was:  Go ye therefore (because He has all power), and teach (give understanding to… to impart understanding one has to have understanding) all nations.  Baptizing them (after they have been taught by the apostles) in the name (singular… not names… name) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  In as much as all baptisms by these men were done in the singular name of Jesus, is it possible that the point of His commission to them was to identify Himself as the mighty Jehovah God in flesh?

The name of the Father is probably considered to be Jehovah by most.  The name of Jesus is actually a compound name that when broken into its two parts literally means “Jehovah (“Je”) salvation (“sus”).  Isaiah who revealed the name of Jesus to mean Immanuel (God with us) also wrote:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation.”  (Isaiah 12:2)  He goes on to say, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”  Jehovah has become my salvation is an almost literal translation of the name of Jesus.  The wells of salvation are a theme evidenced in the ministry of Jesus!

The compounding of the Old Testament name of Jehovah with other words describes particular attributes of the LORD.  Some of these names are:  Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Nissi, Jehovah-Raah, Jehovah-Rapha, Jehovah-Shammah, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jehovah-Mekoddishkem, Jehovah-Shalom, Jehovah-Sabaoth, and Jehovah-Yesha.  The numerous compound names all add a dimension to the character of the LORD and no one would deny that each is still a legitimate name of Jehovah.  The name of Jesus is simply one more compound name using for a base the name Jehovah (the self-existent one).  Some of those compound names identify the LORD as: provider, banner, shepherd, healer, present, righteousness, sanctification, peace, over the host, and yes, salvation! 

Jesus made it clear when he spoke to the Jewish leaders in John 5: 43, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not…”  Paul also declared that Jesus had received his name by inheritance (Hebrew 1:4).

The name of the son is rather obvious, but let us consider the fact that Jesus was named after the instruction of the angel who spoke to Joseph.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:21)

The name of the Holy Ghost also can be identified as Jesus.  The Lord said that, “But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…”

We can see, then, that the disciples used the name of Jesus to baptize people because it was the true understanding of the words of Jesus on the mountain.  If this was not the case, the apostles, who were sent of God, were not in obedience to the Lord’s command.  But as we have seen the name of Jesus does fulfil the conditions of his command in Matthew 28:19. 

Paul instructs us to do all in the name of Jesus.  “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus”!  (Col. 3:17)