The Beginning of Jesus' Public Ministry (According to John)

The name of the Lord can be misused and misapplied, but the plain meaning of the text is the authority he holds. Claiming his authority and actually having it are two different things.

John 1:12

To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God....

John 3:18

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 20:31

...These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Acts 2:38

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...."

Acts 10:48

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 19:5

On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

The word for "entrust" here is typically rendered "believe" (πιστεύω). It stands in contrast to the people's belief in him mentioned in the previous verse. They believed in him, but he didn't believe in them. We must earn his trust.

John 6:64

Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.

Jesus' miraculous knowledge of what others are thinking establishes the deity of the Christ.

Genesis 6:5-6

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Hebrews 4:12-15

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.