Power in His Name

Juliet asked, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” 1 This famous line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is intriguing and correct; a rose smells like a rose regardless of what we call it. But when it comes to our Savior Jesus Christ, power is found in His very name.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting with someone I deeply admire. This man had dedicated much time and effort to truly come to know his Savior. I asked him what this time spent studying the life of Jesus Christ had done for him. After a thoughtful pause, he responded, his voice filled with emotion, “He has turned my despair into hope.”

Despair into hope, beauty for ashes2—this and so much more is made possible because of Jesus Christ. As we pray to the Father with our might to come to know more about Jesus Christ, we invite Christ’s matchless power into our lives. Through our personal communication with God, we discover that there is power even in the sacred and humble utterance of the name Jesus Christ. As we seek to do things in His name, our testimony of His name grows. And so we gather and worship, we pray, and we sing, we repent, and we trust, all in His name.

Jesus Christ is known not by one name or title, but dozens more. These names and titles articulate what His enabling power can do for each of us. For instance, He is:

- Our Advocate with the Father.- Our Counsellor in times of need.- The Prince of Peace in moments of fear.- The continual Author and Finisher of our faith.- The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.- The Light of the World.3

So what’s in a name? When it comes to the name of Jesus Christ, everything. His titles and names remind us of His divine role in our lives—bringing us hope, healing, transformation, and salvation.

He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. He is the Christ.

References:1. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 2, scene 2, lines 85–86.2. See Isaiah 61:3.3. See “50 Names and Titles of Jesus Christ,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.