In the name of Jesus! What’s that exactly? It’s said like a Christian abracadabra or open sesame, the finishing touch to a magic ritual.

So we have this well-known line in Philippians 2:10, “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”. Or better still the previous verse, “[God] gave him the name that is above every name”. However, the word ‘name’ is not referring to J-E-S-U-S. The ‘name’ here is the identity, purpose and authority of a person or a thing.

Again, the ‘name’ of Jesus is not J-E-S-U-S but the identity, purpose and authority that he carries as God who became flesh to defeat death. The grave once ran a mockery of God but now it is defeated through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Now we say, “In the name of Jesus”, meaning we pray with his identity (as if we are Jesus himself, we have the staff and seal of the King), his purpose (as in the Lord’s Prayer, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven) and his authority (he is enthroned above all and we are seated with him).

Nevertheless, it’s not just about saying, “In the name of Jesus”, and poof! What we want appears before us or the thing we are trying to drive out disappears. No, there is a key that gives us access to the name, the same key that gave Jesus access: humility, sacrifice and love.

Remember the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and “Blessed are the meek [forget The Handmaid’s Tale]; for they shall inherit the earth”. In fact, all the blessings listed in Matthew 5 are about showing weakness in one form or another – the mourning of repentance, the mercy of forgiveness, seeking peace, and submitting to persecution because you stand by your faith in Jesus.

They all have to do with defeating pride, arrogance and self-interest; making yourself nothing before all heaven and earth. The sovereignty of Me, Myself and I is the source of all that displeases God.

Jesus is the epitome of the Beatitudes, showing humility, sacrifice and love. He let go of his rightful majesty as the creator of all to redeem mankind from sin and death. Even when he was sweating blood and wanted to run away in Gethsemane, he stayed put and allowed himself to be betrayed.

He even submitted to be killed butt naked on a cross which was the most humiliating of deaths. (Forget those movies and paintings. He was wearing nothing).

It was in humbling himself that he was victorious. You see, he didn’t do this as a bargain for self-glory. It can never be sacrifice or humility if it is a transaction for self. I do this for God and my neighbour; I get this and that in return. Forget, it doesn’t work that way. It can only be true sacrifice and humility if it is borne out of love.

Just being conscious alone of what the name of Jesus means will change the sort of prayers we pray. Not thinking of ourselves, our prayers will be opportunities to show love.

So, whatever language you call the name ‘Jesus’ or whatever name or title you choose to refer to him in your prayers does not matter. What’s important is that you understand the meaning and personality behind that word you say.

Having the right to call on the ‘name’ of Jesus is through total dependence and submission to the will of God. For it is in dying to self that we have life.