‘As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Mark 13: 9-13)

"You will be hated by all because of my name." For the Greeks, Judeans, and many cultures a name is more than a label, it is a key to an individual's essential nature.

The Greek for name is onoma. It is derived from ginosko meaning to learn to know, to perceive, to understand, to become intimate with.''

We are to be careful in considering the claims of anyone who says they come in the name of Jesus. We are to use our intelligence and discernment to examine the claims.

Such discernment begins in a familiarity with the Jesus we know through scripture. Here is the best benchmark we can find.

Clearly the whole Jesus is not contained in finite scripture. But whether in prayer or the persuasion of others we perceive a Jesus who is inconsistent with scripture, we should be very cautious.