What's in a Name?

From the very beginning of time naming was something important to God. To name something suggests ownership. Adam’s first job was to name all the animals, as his work was to subdue the earth and husband it. God himself gives Adam his name, an identity linked to his creator. However, after the fall, our true identity was marred, lost even. We lost the ability to be ourselves. We knew shame for the fist time. We couldn’t love, we couldn’t trust God or even do the work created for us. We needed a new name, a new identity... we needed a savior! When God promised to link himself to Abram, to save and bless the world through him, He also changes Abram's name to Abraham (father of a multitude). God routinely does this through out the old testament, a gesture of redemption, of making these men and women His own. For Abraham’s wife Sarai He changes her name to to Sarah (Princess... even after she laughed at the promises of God). Abraham’s grandson, Jacob becomes Israel (one who struggles with God). These names were were reminders of one who would come.

The creator, the one who was there in the very beginning, would become flesh and dwell among us. But when Christ came he was born as he son of peasants no one had ever heard of. Jesus from Nazareth... who was that? This indescribable God actually took a name, a shrunken identity. Not nearly showing the glory of all that He is. Isaiah attempts in several names, “He shall be called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” But on that night when he was helpless crying baby these were things that he laid aside. The shepherds got a glimpse of his glory in the singing of the heavenly hosts. The wise men saw the star that spoke of his greatenss. Joseph and Mary each got visitations from angles trying to describe His wonder. But his majesty just couldn’t be contained or explained even in dozens of names.

At Christmas it is appropriate for us to ask ourselves: why would God do such a thing? He came to live among us, attempted to describe himself because He so longs for us to know Him. He gave up part of his identity so that we could have His. A new, a perfect identity. He came to give us a new name. Just as he gave names to Abaham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and so many others. He has a name for you... as his beloved Child. “I will give him a stone, with a new name written on the stone, that no one knows except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:16 Last Christmas as our team prepared for advent, Jennifer Myhre asked us to read John 10:3 “To Him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice and, he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” She asked us to to listen for Jesus calling our name. I have been blessed this year by revisiting this meditation. I hope you will take some time to do the same. Let him call you by name. May you know more his deep, deep love for you this Christmas!