Encore Post: Our names are important to us. They are kind of a shorthand for everything we are and have worked to build. They tell us which family we belong to and how close we are to the people who use it. At important times in our lives, our names change — when we get married, if we are appointed to an office, earn a degree or get married. Parents often take a lot of time deciding on the name to give each of their children.
In the Hebrew culture of the Bible, names meant even more, if that it possible. They were thought to predict the kind of person that the child will be. Often people would change their name when life changed greatly. Sometimes a name was given along with the reason it was chosen. Some of the most important people in God’s plan were named by God Himself.
On January 1st, the Lutheran Church traditionally celebrates the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. God Himself gave Jesus his name. The name is a form of the name Joshua, which means God saves. (Matthew 1:27) The angel told Joseph “for he will save his people from their sins.” In one sense, we dedicate each new year in Jesus’ name. In another sense, God dedicates us in the name of Jesus.
In the circumcision of Jesus, God’s son began his suffering for our salvation. He lived a perfect life for our sake, suffered and died on the cross for our sake, rose again from the dead and ascended into Heaven for our sake. In Our baptism, God’s name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is given to us. We are now his children and we will live with him forever. On the last day, Jesus will return for us. He truly is Jesus, because he saves us from our sin.
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Merci pour la bonne nouvelle. Emmanuel nous réconforte. Il nous attend auprès de son Père.
Amen.