Life in the Power of His Name

Scripture:  John 20:3 “But these are written so that you may continua to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him, you will have life by the power of his name”

 

Observation:  The Apostle John’s reason for writing his gospel is clear – to encourage believers to “keep on keeping on”, and to bring others to believe in Jesus.  Why?  That they may have life in the power of His name.  Life in the midst of difficulties.  Life in the midst of death.  Even life after physical death.  Life both now & into eternity.  A new life.  An abundant life.  A deeper, more fulfilling life than even a “good” life lived without the Lord.  Jesus spoke peace – shalom – to His disciples each time He met them in the narrative of John Chapter 20.  Peace that passes all understanding.  Peace in the face of anything in the world that may cause a lack of peace.  Life, peace, fulfilment, hope, joy.  In a  deep & abiding measure, today & into eternity.  That’s what “life in the power of His name” is all about.

 

Application:   Life & Death.  This is the great issue.  Physical death comes to us all.  Physical life is given to us all – yet there is one choice that is essential to make in life – will we live as believers “in the power of His name” or not?  Right now, I am  sitting at the hospital bedside of my father-in-law – his deathbed -and I realise how critical this question is.  I realise what a difference it makes to have life by the power of Jesus’ name, that even as death is faced head-on, it’s not the end, & Jesus promises His “Shalom” in the midst.  Even as death is confronted, Life in Christ is greater.  I know because I know because I know.  And whilst there is sadness, there is also assurance of Christ’s love, His peace, and, yes, His victory over death itself.

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou for Your peace, Your Shalom in the midst of darkness & difficulty – even that of death.  I thank You for the assurance that You watch over all my comings & goings, and that, when death comes for the believer, You pull the curtain aside that covers the mystery of death, so that Your glory might be revealed.  Thank you for Your life, life lived in the power of Jesus’ name.  In Jesus’ name.   Amen

 

PS  My father-in-law died about an hour after this was written – peacefully, with his family around him.