What's in a Name?
19th Sunday after Pentecost. Mark 9:38-50.
Rev. David Domanski
9/29/20242 min read
Names are something we may take for granted. However, people often take a long time to decide on just the right name. It’s easier with a pet as you may have an idea of its personality or markings before you choose a name. What about something as important as a child? Why did you choose your children’s names? Why did your parents choose your name? The reasons are innumerable—parents like how it sounds or how it fits with their last name; it’s a family name or that of a close friend or hero; it’s cute.
Every one of us who’s been baptized in the name of the triune God has been given God’s name. How do we do in living up to that?
We have not lived up to the name of God. God holds the bar impossibly high: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). It is easy to see how we fail. Some sins are obvious—murder, hatred, adultery. Some sins are hidden—lust, drunkenness, jealousy. Some we become unaware of—gossip, bad language, ignoring those in need physically, mentally, or spiritually.
The fact is that there has only ever been one person who has lived up to the expectations of God: Jesus Christ. His name had no dishonor of sin when he was born. He did nothing to dishonor his name throughout his life. In his death on the cross he took our guilt and shame upon himself and died under the curse of God. They mocked him with a sign on the cross that gave his name: “King of the Jews.” But his death brings the forgiveness of sins for you.
In his resurrection God cleared Jesus’ name of all guilt by declaring him innocent before the world. In this resurrection God gives you the gift of everlasting life. The name Jesus means “God’s salvation.” That is what he did: won salvation for you by his righteous life, his atoning death on the cross, and his miraculous resurrection. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. You who believe on his name have the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2) when he returns in glory. There is power in his name. His is the only name by which a man could cast out demons as in our text. That name covers our sin and replaces it with his name.
Amazingly, then, even though we may fail to live up to the name of God in what we say and do, as people redeemed in Christ, we actually bear HIS name well. We call ourselves Christians by His name. This name says whose we are. The name of “Christian” reminds us of the gifts we have received. It makes a difference in how we act.
By grace, we eliminate things that would completely separate us from Christ. By grace we let the saving power of the salt of Christ’s name work in us to make us what God intends.
A woman who read Ps 66:10, “For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver,” wondered what it meant to be refined like silver. She found a place where silver was refined and watched the process from beginning to end. Afterward she asked the craftsman, “How do you know when the refining is done?” He answered, “When I look at the silver and I can see myself, then I know it’s ready.”
Christ gives us his name and claims us as his own. By the means of grace—the Word of God and the Holy Sacraments—and through the refining fire of the various trials God brings into our lives, Christ begins to restore his image in us and helps us live up to his name that is upon us.