By Andrew Williams – November 12, 2021
Scripture: I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 17:11-12 AMP
Definition of name: ‘a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing’.
Observation: In this passage Jesus asks Father God to “keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me”. I keep asking myself what “Name” is Jesus talking about?
Is it : Jesus, Jehovah, Yahweh, Son Of Man, Son of God, Messiah, King of kings, Lord of lords.?
From the definition we see that a name is a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or a thing. In my mind it doesn’t matter which name is used as long as it is pointing towards Father God. Remember that Jesus said that it was God’s name that was given to him, therefore the distinctive designation would be that of God’s authority, power, and person.
In other words the name of Jesus represents God in every aspect of the God-head. Therefore when he says that he has kept them in God’s name, to me means that he has kept us safe, saved us, taught us, guarded us, protected us in the authority/power/love of the Father (showing us who Father God is).
Jesus kept us in God’s name, and now he was asking God to keep His disciples in His(God’s) name now that he was going to leave them. Jesus was one with the Father because of this Name, and as he was about to leave he asked Father God to keep them in His name so that they could be one with Jesus and Father God.
So in God’s name….we can all be ONE. I think the Bible says somewhere that we are called by the name of Christ, and since we are all Christians (all designated by the same name) , we are all one!
Application: In order to be one with God we have to be called by His name. The only way to get His name is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord as Savior.
I will continue to proclaim God’s word so that others may come to know Jesus as Lord and savior, and become one with the body of Christ and with God the Father and God the Son.
Prayer: Father God, Your name is the most wonderful thing I know . Because of Your Name, the name that you gave the Lord Jesus Christ, I am saved and I am now a part of the family of God. Thank You for making me part of Your family! Help me to win others so that they can be a part of this family too. I ask this in the mighty Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.