Manifested Name – Part Two

A man is only as good as his word, and his name comes to represent his word.  Get to work.

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John 17:6a – I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world:

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Yesterday I wrote concerning some of the names by which Jehovah was known in the Old Testament.  Jesus said He had manifested that Name unto the men Father had given Him.  To more fully understand that statement, we must realize that the four Gospels are really not part of the New Testament, though man has basically tried to make that of them.  The four Gospels actually focus on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.  They speak of the conception, birth, childhood, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, all of which took place under the Old Covenant.  It was a ministry in which Jesus functioned as a prophet under the law of the Old Testament, NOT the New Testament.

So when Jesus said He had manifested Father’s Name, He was referring to Father’s Name as it related to Old Covenant Scripture.  But what did Jesus do to manifest Father’s Name?  Let’s consider that in the light of the Old Testament names from yesterday’s Second Miler.  “El,” meaning “Almighty,” was manifested through the authority of covenant Jesus demonstrated throughout His earthly ministry, and it’s culmination in that setting came when He said “all power in heaven and earth” was given to Him.  He in truth declared Himself to be “almighty.”  “Shaddai” was demonstrated through both His ability and great heart for the supply of provision for all who followed Him.  “Jehovah,” or “Lord,” is clearly seen in His experience with His disciples who declared Him to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” at which Jesus said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you, by My Father which is in heaven.”  And in one of His final utterances before His death, from the cross Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.”  The term “Eloi” is the singular of “Elohim.”  “Elohim” means “Gods;” not in a possessive sense, but in the plural sense, that being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Yet Jesus, as He hung on the cross, clearly speaking to His heavenly Father, used the singular term, “Eloi,” meaning, “My God.”  And this identity is set forth clearly in the words of Thomas when he encountered the resurrected Lord.  He called Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

Through the reading of the works of Jesus, and by the identification of those who spoke of what they saw in Him, we can clearly see that Jesus manifested Father’s Name to them through His works and by the revelation of Holy Spirit through His earthly ministry.  Once again today I challenge you; if Jesus manifested Father’s Name, and we are expected to do the works He did, then it falls our responsibility to do the same – to manifest Father’s Name, and now the Name of Jesus, to those in whose lives we exercise influence. 

Manna for Today – John 17; John 14:12-14; John 15:7; John 16:23; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 4:18-21;       John 8:29; Luke 1:37; Hebrews 1:3; Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Matthew 12:35-37

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Manifested Name – Part One

What does it mean to “manifest a name?”

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John 17:6a – I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world:

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This statement by our Lord is so powerful.  Jesus said He had manifested Father’s Name unto those whom Father had given Him.  There is much here to examine.  First, let’s examine what it means to “manifest a name.”  Names have meaning.  In our modern world, where names are often made up to suit the whim of a parent, we see clear indication that those who would do so have little if any understanding of the power of the words that come out of their mouth.  I know this could be a controversial statement, and that some might “have their feelings hurt” by it.  I do not make this statement to injure anyone, but to make the reader aware that words carry power; enormous power.  The Scriptures are replete with examples of this truth.

Abram (meaning “father”) had his name changed to Abraham (meaning “father of nations”), and he has become the father of our faith.  Jacob (meaning “usurper”) had his name changed to Israel (according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible means “he will rule as God”).  The name Methuselah means “when he dies it will happen,” and it was the year that Methuselah died that the flood of Noah took place.  Can there be any doubt that words are powerful, and that would especially apply to names.  Once again I encourage you to read our Text for Today.

With that in mind, let us consider the “name(s)” of God.  In Genesis 17 we encounter El Shaddai, a name have a broad meaning.  “El” is “the almighty one.”  “Shaddai” comes from an ancient word meaning “breasty one.”  Two other names used for God in the Old Testament are “Jehovah,” meaning “Lord,” and “Elohim,” the plural version of “Eloi” meaning “Gods” (the Trinity).  And as we read through the Old Testament, we encounter the redemptive names of God.  Each one is preceded by the name “Jehovah.”  They are “Jehovah Rohi” (the Lord my Shepherd), “Jehovah Jireh” (the Lord my Provider), “Jehovah Shalom” (the Lord my Peace), “Jehovah Rapha” (the Lord my Healer), “Jehovah Tsidkenu” (the Lord my Righteousness), “Jehovah Nissi” (the Lord my Banner), “Jehovah M’Kaddesh” (the Lord my Sacrificer), “Jehovah Shammah” (the Lord is there).  And while I have given you here eight redemptive names of Jehovah, this is not an exhaustive list of terms used to speak forth the name of Jehovah.  And when Jesus said that He had manifested the Name of His Father to all those Father had given Him, the immensity of that task is truly monumental.  Yet He did it, and that fully.  And having done it for us, it is without a doubt our responsibility to study it, learn it, and live our lives submitted to it, for therein resides our life, blessing, and victory. 

Manna for Today – John 17; John 14:12-14; John 15:7; John 16:23; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 4:18-21;       John 8:29; Luke 1:37; Hebrews 1:3; Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Matthew 12:35-37

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