 |
||||
|
PREACHED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY 2006 The Holy Name of Jesus New Year’s Day is celebrated all around the world as a time of new beginnings. As we commit the past year to history and get used to writing, 2006, we Christians have — from ancient times — celebrated January 1st as the traditional "Feast of the Circumcision," which occurred 8 days after the birth of a Hebrew male. That has now been changed to "The Holy Name of Jesus," because that was the day he received his name. So who can tell me what Jesus’ real name was in Aramaic? JOSHUA! Ya-shu-a — Moses’ first lieutenant, who lead the Hebrews into the Promised Land. More fully: Yehoshuah - Yahweh is salvation! - "for he will save his people from their sins." Only Christians would have made that connection, because Jesus — Joshua — was a fairly common name in the first century. The historian, Josephus mentioned 19 persons he knew by that name. With the various attempts to throw off Roman occupation, nationalism was on the rise, so the hero, Joshua, was highly favored. That’s why the early Christians gave him more names to differentiate him from all the other Joshuas: Jesus of Nazareth; Jesus, son of David. "Jesus Christ" became his popular name, combining Jesus with Messiah — the anointed one — the Messiah Jesus, since even messiah claims were quite common in those days.* This day - The Holy Name of Jesus — reminds us of another fact of faith: your name is holy. Not many people think of that. However it was thought up, your name was given for a reason: after one of your parents, grandparents, or a favorite relative — my middle name, William, was my father’s middle name; a popular song or flower, a saint — it seems like every girl born into a Roman Catholic family has Mary or Maria in her name somewhere, or just a favorite name of a particular generation. However you received your name, it is the embodiment of who you are, your identification. Just the mention of your name will conjure up a mental image of you — and you don’t really know a person until you know his or her name. Introducing himself to his first grade class, a former parishioner, who is now a grown man, stood up and said, "My father’s name is George, my grandfather’s name is George, my uncle’s name is George, my brother’s name is George; I’m Fred" - and sat down! Names carry a lot of weight, sometimes too much! Nicholas Dow Morris was baptized here on Wednesday. The day he was born to Brian & Elizabeth, I prepared the "Thanksgiving after Childbirth" service with his name and date of birth at the top. Just before we began the service I noticed his mother had gotten all teared up. What’s the matter?" "It’s the first time I’ve ever seen his name in print," she said. Names are powerful. To know the Name of God was an awesome thing back then, a revelation, never to be used in vain. I discovered that power during the wedding here of our daughter, Stephanie. For the Prayers of the People I always invite the couple to remember names of their parents, grandparents, or brothers and sisters who have died — or simply can’t be present. Even knowing academically how it works, I was still amazed when a friend read the names of Jill and my deceased parents: Herman, Mae and John. Just hearing their names spoken aloud was like they were present at that moment. That’s how God knows you, too. In the Christian faith we receive our name at baptism, just as Jesus did during his circumcision. Part of our faith is that our Creator has in remembrance — carries in his heart - the name of every human being who has ever lived on the face of the Earth. Your name is as special as you are, carries great power. SO in celebration of the name given you, the name we know you by, the name God loves you by, I’m going to count to three, and on the fourth beat, I want everyone here to speak loudly your full name — every name you’ve ever had. (Well, maybe not every name!) Hear it in your head, as it carries the essence of who you are. Feel its power, take pride in it, give thanks for the DNA heritage and all its links to generations past, holding all that is special about you, the holy Name of each one of you. Ready? 1 2 3 NAME!!! And with all our names ringing in the air I wish all of you a very happy new year — in the Name of Jesus! Copyright: Ernest W. Cockrell 1/1/6 * Facts from Volume E-J of The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Abingdon Press
|
|||
