The Power in a Name: Isaiah 49: 1-7; John 1: 35-42
Typically, one of the first things a person asks when meeting you is your name. Now, growing up in rural Eastern Kentucky, asking someone’s name was an entire study in genealogical history. You’d get the full, “Oh, so your daddy’s family is so-and-so; your momma came from that family over in Wallins; your grandmother lived up in Cawood,” and so on. Much of it was to find all the rich friendship and family connections. It also was something kind of important to do before a first date in a rural area with close-knit families…if you get my drift.
There is power and history in a name, and in the names which we’ve been given. I remember in grade school we did a name study. I learned that my name, “William” means “determined guardian” or “resolute protector.” The meaning of that name has stuck with me through the years. You might have family names as well handed down through the generations which identify you as part of your group of people or “kinfolk” as we say.
Our Gospel lesson today is heavy on names and their powerful meanings. The first name we hear is John the Baptist referring to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” This name is particular for John as he preached that he baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. To him, Jesus is the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sins of the world. That name is important. For us, Jesus is still known as the Lamb of God—the one who brings grace and mercy to us, the one who saves us from all the bad in this world…Jesus, the Lamb of God.
But there is another name used for Jesus in this scripture. The first two disciples who leave John and follow Jesus refer to him as “Rabbi.” They had learned and studied under John about his teachings of the coming Messiah. So, they come to identify Jesus in the same way as their new Rabbi or teacher who would give them the knowledge of how to live in this world. That is true for us too. Jesus is a Rabbi to us, for we are taught to follow his teachings, obey his words, and follow his example in this world, for Jesus is the Holy One, who not only gives us grace, but gives us a truly Godly example of how to live as Christians.
The disciple Andrew gives Jesus one more name, though, the Messiah. This name goes beyond Rabbi, beyond Lamb of God, for in calling Jesus the Messiah, they refer to him as the one who fulfills God’s holy covenant with the people. For centuries, the Israelites had looked for this deliverer from God—promised to them by God’s own word. Jesus, the Messiah, is proof of God’s promises fulfilled and the people’s prayers answered.
But the naming doesn’t just stop with Jesus. The whole thing is turned around, and Jesus says to Simon, his newest disciple, “You will be called Cephas,” or “Peter” in the Greek. Ironically, “Simon” means “to listen,” something Peter was not all that good at, but the translation of Peter means “rock,” and we are told elsewhere that upon this rock God will build the church. In some ways, Peter is not just the new name for Simon, Son of John, but a name for all of Christ’s followers—the rocks upon which God’s church is built and grows.
Now, what does this long history of names and meanings hold for us here and now? Let me ask it this way: what does it mean when we say we are The Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, and especially that last part. What does it mean to us to say to others, whether they have faith, a church, or nothing, that we are Disciples of Christ. If you say Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic, or Methodist, most of society has a general idea of what those are and the usual stereotypes that go along with them. But what a more intimate, personal, and challenging thing to call ourselves Disciples of Christ.
What does it mean to say we are First Christian Church? There may be past associations for folks who had family here. Frankly, I think almost every person in Macon had a family member pass through this church at one time or another. Maybe some remember a history that wasn’t so nice, or welcoming, or nurturing at some time or another, or even remember conflict. But the question should never be how we fell short 50 years ago, 20 years ago, or even 5 minutes ago. Instead, where are we going with the name and the calling we’ve committed ourselves to?
The story of the Gospel, the point of grace, and the work of Christ points toward the future. We’ve become, by our faith, Children of God. We’ve become, by our commitment here, Disciples of Christ. Now what are we going to do with that? How do we explain it? How do we live by that name we have received? Isaiah gives a word of wisdom on this. In the prophetic words, we hear, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” The reply is that the work seems useless, strength has been wasted, and no purpose fulfilled.
The only hope is to leave it all in God’s hand. But the Lord reminds the writer of what Jesus, the Lamb of God, Rabbi, Messiah means to the people: “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light o the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” It was a calling and a following that or early followers of Jesus had to work out and find a way to live up to. And that calling still comes down the years to us.
There truly is power in a name: Lamb of God, Rabbi, Messiah. All throughout the Bible, there are different names for God for what the people needed: healer, redeemer, savior, guide. For us, there are many powerful names associated with or faith: child of God, friend, minister, teacher, witness. As a church and people of faith we call ourselves Disciples of Christ. Our very name speaks to our desire to follow Christ in faith and in life as closely as we can.
I pray that we take this name to heart, and I pray it inspires us in our lives of faith. If I ask who we are as a family of faith, the Disciples of Christ say, “We are the Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one Body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.” And so may we work each day to live out the meaning of our name—children of God, and Disciples of Christ in this world.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/3962043600731018