What is the name of God?
The Manifested Name: Jesus' Revelation in John 17 and Its Unleashed Power in Acts
In the shadowed hush of Gethsemane's edge, Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and prays one of the most intimate prayers in Scripture: "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word" (John 17:6, NKJV). This isn't a casual aside—it's a pivotal handover, a divine torch passed from the Son to his followers on the eve of his crucifixion. But what name did Jesus manifest? For centuries, theologians have wrestled with this, from ancient rabbis to modern commentators. Yet, as one keen observer notes, the answer snaps into focus when we zoom out to the Book of Acts: it's Jesus—the name that becomes the apostles' battle cry, igniting miracles, conversions, and a global movement. This revelation isn't abstract theology; it's explosive power, transforming timid disciples into world-changers.
The Prayer That Changes Everything: Context of John 17
John 17, often called the High Priestly Prayer, is Jesus' farewell discourse to the Father, interceding for himself, his disciples, and all future believers. Verses 1-5 recap his mission: glorifying the Father through his earthly work. Then, in verse 6, the focus shifts to the disciples—the "men" handpicked by God from a hostile world. These weren't random recruits; they were eternally the Father's, drawn by divine election and entrusted to Jesus for training (John 6:37, 44).
The Greek word for "manifested" here is ephanerōsa, meaning to make visible, reveal, or shine light on something hidden. Jesus isn't just name-dropping; he's unveiling the Father's essence through his words, miracles, and very being. As one commentary puts it, this manifestation equips the disciples to "keep [the Father's] word," proving their faithfulness by internalizing and acting on this revelation. It's the bridge from Jesus' ministry to the church's launchpad.
Decoding the "Name": Beyond a Label, Into the Heart
In biblical language, "name" (onoma in Greek) rarely means a mere phonetic tag—it's shorthand for identity, character, authority, and reputation. Think Pharaoh's name carrying his royal power or a king's seal invoking his decrees. So, what specific "name" did Jesus reveal?
Scholars offer a spectrum of views, each illuminating facets of the mystery:
From Prayer to Pentecost: The Name Ignites in Acts
Here's where it gets huge, as our conversation highlighted. Jesus prays this in John 17 to equip the disciples for mission, and Acts shows the payoff: the manifested name—Jesus—becomes the apostles' weapon of choice. No longer hiding, Peter and company invoke it for everything from healings to showdowns with authorities.
Why This Matters: A Name for Our Mission
This isn't dusty doctrine; it's dynamite for today. Jesus manifested the name not to hoard it but to hand it off, just as he did to those first disciples. In a world of competing "names"—ideologies, influencers, identities—the name Jesus still heals, saves, and unites. As Albert Mohler observes, those who receive it "keep [the Father's] word" by living it out, mirroring the apostles' boldness.
If John 17 is the blueprint and Acts the blueprint in action, where does that leave us? Empowered. The same name that toppled empires invites us to pray, proclaim, and persevere. What if we invoked it with Acts-level faith? The world might just turn upside down again.
In the end, the manifested name is Jesus—the Savior whose very utterance declares the Father's love. As he prayed, so he empowers: "I have manifested Your name... that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26). Let's run with it.
The Prayer That Changes Everything: Context of John 17
John 17, often called the High Priestly Prayer, is Jesus' farewell discourse to the Father, interceding for himself, his disciples, and all future believers. Verses 1-5 recap his mission: glorifying the Father through his earthly work. Then, in verse 6, the focus shifts to the disciples—the "men" handpicked by God from a hostile world. These weren't random recruits; they were eternally the Father's, drawn by divine election and entrusted to Jesus for training (John 6:37, 44).
The Greek word for "manifested" here is ephanerōsa, meaning to make visible, reveal, or shine light on something hidden. Jesus isn't just name-dropping; he's unveiling the Father's essence through his words, miracles, and very being. As one commentary puts it, this manifestation equips the disciples to "keep [the Father's] word," proving their faithfulness by internalizing and acting on this revelation. It's the bridge from Jesus' ministry to the church's launchpad.
Decoding the "Name": Beyond a Label, Into the Heart
In biblical language, "name" (onoma in Greek) rarely means a mere phonetic tag—it's shorthand for identity, character, authority, and reputation. Think Pharaoh's name carrying his royal power or a king's seal invoking his decrees. So, what specific "name" did Jesus reveal?
Scholars offer a spectrum of views, each illuminating facets of the mystery:
- God's Eternal Covenant Name (YHWH/Jehovah): Drawing from Exodus 3:14-15, some argue Jesus restored the sacred tetragrammaton (YHVH), the unpronounceable name of Israel's God, which Jews avoided uttering aloud. This fits the Jewish context—the disciples knew God as "Lord" (Adonai), but Jesus boldly proclaimed the personal, saving Yahweh through his life. As one interpreter notes, "Jesus made known God's name Jehovah by using it," echoing its thousands of Old Testament appearances.
- The Relational "Father": A popular view, especially in Johannine studies, sees "Father" (Pater) as the fresh revelation. Old Testament glimpses of God's fatherhood (e.g., Isaiah 63:16) pale beside Jesus' intimate "Abba, Father" (Mark 14:36). He taught the disciples to pray "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9), shifting from distant sovereign to loving parent. Commentators like Ellicott and the Pulpit Commentary emphasize this as the "compendium of [God's] excellences," made "appreciable" through the Son.
- God's Character and Will: Broader takes, per Barnes and Cambridge Bible, view the name as the full disclosure of God's attributes—love, mercy, holiness—revealed in Jesus' teachings and signs. "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9) embodies this; the name is the gospel itself, the plan of salvation.
- "I AM" and Divine Self-Existence: Echoing Exodus 3:14's ego eimi ("I AM"), Jesus' seven "I am" statements (e.g., "I am the bread of life," John 6:35) declare the Father's eternal being, uniquely manifested in the Son.
From Prayer to Pentecost: The Name Ignites in Acts
Here's where it gets huge, as our conversation highlighted. Jesus prays this in John 17 to equip the disciples for mission, and Acts shows the payoff: the manifested name—Jesus—becomes the apostles' weapon of choice. No longer hiding, Peter and company invoke it for everything from healings to showdowns with authorities.
- Healing and Authority: At the temple gate, Peter commands the lame man, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" (Acts 3:6). The man leaps, and a crowd gathers—3,000 souls saved that day (Acts 2:41). It's John 17 activated: the Father's name, manifested in Jesus, now wielded by those who "kept His word."
- Confronting Darkness: Paul frees a demon-possessed girl "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:18), sparking riots but advancing the gospel. The name isn't magic; it's the Father's power flowing through the Son.
- Salvation's Exclusive Claim: Grilled by the Sanhedrin, Peter thunders, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). This echoes Matthew 1:21 and ties back to John 17:3's "eternal life" through knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ. The apostles baptized "in the name of Jesus" (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5), fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) by embodying the triune name in the Son.
Why This Matters: A Name for Our Mission
This isn't dusty doctrine; it's dynamite for today. Jesus manifested the name not to hoard it but to hand it off, just as he did to those first disciples. In a world of competing "names"—ideologies, influencers, identities—the name Jesus still heals, saves, and unites. As Albert Mohler observes, those who receive it "keep [the Father's] word" by living it out, mirroring the apostles' boldness.
If John 17 is the blueprint and Acts the blueprint in action, where does that leave us? Empowered. The same name that toppled empires invites us to pray, proclaim, and persevere. What if we invoked it with Acts-level faith? The world might just turn upside down again.
In the end, the manifested name is Jesus—the Savior whose very utterance declares the Father's love. As he prayed, so he empowers: "I have manifested Your name... that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26). Let's run with it.
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