“Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”
—Matthew 6:9

Reflection

As God in the flesh, Jesus did not set aside even a fraction of His nature to become human. Philippians 2 describes Jesus as being in the form of God, yet He emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men. This is the profound mystery of Jesus being fully God and fully man.

Because Jesus possessed the full nature of who God is, He did not leave His holiness in heaven either. He walked the earth with the same set-apartness as the Father.

We get a glimpse of this holiness when Jesus encountered a demon-possessed man while teaching in the synagogue. As Jesus spoke with unprecedented authority, the unclean spirit cried out, “I know who You are, the Holy One of God!” The demons could not help but speak the truth because, as spiritual beings, they saw Jesus in His true nature: holy.

Later, when soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked whom they sought. When they said they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He responded, “I am He.” At His words, “they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6). His response points us back to the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The power of God’s holy name was on display as those present fell before Him.

Isn’t it profound, then, that Jesus invites us to talk and commune with this same holy God?

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He immediately drew their attention to God’s holiness: “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” The word hallowed describes something holy, set apart, and worthy of the utmost honor. God’s very name is holy.

In the Old Testament, God chose to reveal Himself in spirit to a select few people, and in the New Testament He chose to reveal Himself in flesh to the world in the form of Jesus Christ.

It is crucial for us to consider that Jesus, because He is the essence of God’s holiness, is worthy of the same honor. The One who invites us near is not common. He is holy, set apart, and worthy of the utmost honor.

Application

• Approach Jesus with the wonder that the One who invites you into communion is the Holy One of God.
• Let your prayer begin with reverence, honoring God’s name as holy, set apart, and worthy of the utmost honor.

Prayer

Jesus, open my eyes to the holiness of who You truly are. You are the Holy One of God, worthy of the utmost honor. Thank You that You invite me to talk and commune with You even in Your holiness. Teach me to approach You with both nearness and reverence. Hallowed be Your name, and may my heart honor You as holy. Amen.