In Nomine Jesu

The Name Game

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord

Names have meaning. Names have the ability make one great or to ridicule. Parents spend time thinking about what they will name their child. They want something that won’t be misconstrued and lead to schoolyard bullying. For some, there are certain names. Others have other criteria, and of course, things get interesting when both mother and father have very different criteria on how they should name their child. I, of course, am not speaking from experience. It’s amazing that until you have children and are thinking about names you don’t realize how many people you don’t like. “What about Methuselah?” “Oh, no, I knew a Methuselah once, horrible person.” For 2,000 years, more people on earth have known the name of Jesus than any other name. Since the death of Jesus, billions of people, have claimed to be followers of this Jesus. Billions more have heard of His name. Presently, the name of Jesus can be found in over 6,000 languages and more are being added every year.1 This evening, we celebrate the . On the 8th day as well as being circumcised, it was also the day in which a male child was named. Historically, because of seeing circumcision as the sign of the Old Testament and being the sign of the New Testament, many over the centuries have baptized children on the 8th day, but the baptism was also the time in which the child was named. Often people would come to a baptism simply to find out the name of the child. Because when the pastor asked, “What is the name of this child?” it was not because he had forgotten, rather it was because up until this

1 https://www.ethnologue.com/guides/how-many-languages http://www.wycliffe.net/en/statistics

1 point, only the parents knew the name of the child and even then, sometimes it was only the father. So, when the parents answered, everyone would be waiting with baited breath to find out the child’s name. And if you’re familiar at all with modern Judaism, the naming of the male child still takes place at the circumcision. So, Mary and Joseph’s family would have waited anxiously to hear the name of the child. Typically, the child was named after a family member. If you recall from the naming and circumcision of John the Baptist they were shocked to hear that Zachariah and Elizabeth named their child John since it was not a name that was in their family. We are not told of the friends and family’s reaction to Mary’s son’s name. It’s probable unlikely any family were even present since they were away from Nazareth in Bethlehem. When the Angel announced to Mary that she would be giving birth to God’s Son, the angel said that she would call his name Jesus—that is, God saves. On one hand, it’s strange that this single name has dominated the last 2,000 years of world history, especially Western history. For most of us, Jesus has a sacred ring to it; it sounds holy and divine. But this wasn’t the case when Mary and Joseph followed the angel’s instructions and gave their baby His name. Granted, it had a special meaning, but it was not an unusual name. The first century Jewish historian Josephus mentions at least 12 different people he knew with the name Jesus, including four High Priests. In Acts 9, we read of the Jewish false prophet, Bar-Jesus. In Colossians 4, Paul mentions one of his fellow workers, Jesus, called Justus. Jesus was a common name, like Jim or John. When Mary and Joseph called their son Jesus, there were no prayers in His name. No one used it as a swear word. No one sang songs about this name. We don’t name our sons John or Jim

2 with the expectation that over the next 2,000 years, 8 billion people will pray in their name. Christians have been reflecting and meditating on the name of Jesus for a long time. Long before a formal feast was established, Franciscan monks began to preach heavily upon the name of Jesus in the 13th century. And this certainly didn’t even originate with them. They just re-popularized an already existing tradition. They began to encourage Christians to place the name of Jesus over doorways and around their homes in the form of this Christogram. It is a sun with the letters IHS, which stand for the first second, and last letters of the name Jesus in Greek. The Franciscan monks however did not invent the symbol, it is quite ancient. Because of this teaching of the Franciscans, in Siena Italy to this day you will find this symbol etched above the doors of public and private buildings.2 Despite its popularity, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus was not celebrated until the middle of the 15th century beginning in Belgium. The most obvious time they choose was around the Circumcision and naming of Jesus. So as not to overshadow the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord, His naming has traditionally been celebrated on December 31st or on January 2nd. The name of Jesus is holy and worthy to be praised. Jesus name is not holy in and of itself, but rather it is holy because of the person who bears it. The name of Jesus is not a magic wand. Chanting it does not give one special powers. The power in the name is the person behind the name. In the Old Testament, names meant something. They were more than badges of identification. They often told others who you were and what purpose God had for your life. “And you shall call his name Jesus,” the angel told Joseph, “for He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). More than a great teacher,

2 Baier, David. 1931. “The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus: History of the Feast.” Orate Fratres 6 (2): 49–55.

3 more than an enlightened man, more than a worker of miracles, more than giving us meaning in life, more than a self-help guru, more than a self-esteem builder, more a political liberator, more than a caring friend, more than a transformer of cultures, more than a purpose for the purposeless, Jesus is the Savior of sinners. God could have chosen another Name for His Son, and that name would be just as holy and worthy to be praised. But the name which He has given us is the name Jesus. Throughout the Scriptures we are told, “So that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.3

The name that Jesus receives at his circumcision is the name that will change all of human history—a name that will cause empires to fall and rise, a name that will bring light to dark places throughout the world and history. Even our calendar revolves around this person called Jesus. Time itself as we know it is based around Him. This is a name that kings and queens have bowed down to and called their king. This is the name that demons tremble at, this is the name the apostles healed and worked miracles by. It is the name by which all men are saved. The name that the apostles used was not their own, but rather the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name has power not in and of itself, but rather because of who it belongs to. As I mentioned before, this name means “God saves,” which He does through Christ alone. Ever since the first Christmas, “Jesus” has been more than just a name. It’s been our only comfort in life and in death—our only hope in a hopeless world.

3 Philippians 2:10-11. 4

When you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you may have life in his name.4 There is, in fact, no other name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved.5 So naturally, whatever we do, in word or deed, we ought to do in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 The peace which passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus New Year’s Eve (LSB One-year series)

Introit: Psalm 8, Isaiah 30:(8-14) 15-17, 34–38 ; Romans 8:31b-39; Luke 12:35-40

Dec 31, 2019

Vicar Justin Clarke

Soli Deo Gloria

4 John 20:31. 5 Acts 4:12. 6 Colossians 3:17. 5