“Your names are written in heaven”

Luke 10:17-20



Pastor Tom Johnson, July 7, 2013

Rockefeller, Kennedy, McDonald’s Corporation, Disney, Trump—names—but names that speak power. Written on buildings and monuments and in the newspapers—and spoken by television reporters—a name spoken often means power. People will go to great length and costs to make their name known. 10 years ago, US Cellular bought naming rights for Comiski Park for $68 million. Four years ago, Sears Tower became Willis Tower as part of a $2 million/year leasing agreement. There is FedEx Field in Washington DC, 27 years, $205 million; American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, 30 years, $195 million; and Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, 20 years, $185 million. In modern times and in ancient times names are power. We can still find the names of important people chiseled into stone on the great pyramids of Egypt, Greek and Roman stone buildings, and monuments throughout Europe and the Far East. In Jesus’ day, names were no less significant. “We have no king but Caesar,” cried the mob. Jesus himself held up a coin and asked whose inscription was on it. “Caesar’s.” the names of the Caesars are still found in Jerusalem after thousands of years.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus sends the disciples out, he sends them empty handed—nothing in their hands and nothing on their feet—no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals. They had only one tool at their disposal—the words and name of Jesus. When the 72 disciples returned, they were excited! They saw results. And they were most impressed with the power of Jesus’ name: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” “We spoke peace in your name, and there was peace. We spoke healing in your name, and there was healing. We even were able to drive the supernatural forces of evil out of the lives of hopeless people!” Jesus, your name is great! “Jesus of Nazareth!” “Your name should be published with the great on the massive walls of Jerusalem!”

But as amazed as the disciples are, their amazement falls short of how truly great the name of Jesus is. He is not just “Jesus of Nazareth, the miracle worker.” He is not just another prophet with extraordinary results. He is not just a man. He is the eternal Son of God. He is far greater than they have ever imagined. At that is exactly what Jesus is trying to say when he responds to their wonderment at what his name can do. “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” “Don’t underestimate what my name can do. For you, Satan came from heaven above down to you. From my perspective, he was cast down from heaven from where I was to you below. I was there when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Before them, my name was ‘the Word’ through whom heaven and earth was created. Before Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Elijah, and even my birth in Bethlehem, I was there. My name is ‘I AM’—the Alpha and Omega—the Beginning and the End. I gave the word, and Satan—an archangel—was cast out of my service forever.”

It was probably more than what the disciples could get their minds around—that the name of Jesus is not just a powerful weapon against the dominion of evil—but that the name of Jesus is the name above every name. Later, Peter will write, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We sing, “Jesus, name above all names.” We sing his great name. We baptize in his powerful name. We forgive sins in his merciful name. We publish his name in our books, bulletins, letters, and placard his name on our walls. We pray in the name of Jesus. His name is awesome.

His name should blow us away, but what Jesus says next ought to also blow us away. He says, “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you [though my name], but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” The one with the name above all names exalts our names. He inscribes, publishes, and placards our names on the gates and foundations of the New Jerusalem, our eternal home. “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven,” Jesus says. The book of Revelation describes heaven as a place where the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s names are on the city gates and the twelve apostles names are on the foundations…and that all of our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Don’t be surprised that the name of Jesus is so powerful and can even conquer the powers of darkness. That is just who he is. Be surprised, marvel, be in wonder, and rejoice that Jesus lives, died, and rose so that our eternal life is secure and certain.

It may be exciting to see your name on the scoreboard at a baseball game. It may be exhilarating to read your name on the side of a Goodyear Blimp. It may take your breath away to make out your name on the banner following the single engine airplane. But Jesus assures us that he has reserved a place for us by writing our names in on heaven’s reservation list. He has already begun to celebrate our arrival by writing our names on the VIP list. Rejoice! Celebrate! Jesus assures us that our names, our lives, and our souls have a secure and eternal home.