The Naming & Circumcision of Jesus - What's in a Name?

Numbers 6.22-end; Galatians 4.4-7; Luke 2.15-21

Amongst the Christmas presents I received this Christmas was a bookmark. The bookmark had my name printed on it at the top and below that, the meaning of my name. According to this bookmark, my name means 'Peace'. It goes on to say something of the characteristics that my name symbolises or means. It says 'You have a quiet and peaceful nature. Inside you have a dynamic core. You are not afraid of life. You can deal with your own and others problems.' Well, it's not for me to judge whether that assessment is anywhere near the truth. I can think of instances when the exact opposite to the above can be seen by anyone within a few yards of me. But then we are all a huge mix and mystery.

I guess most, if not all of you have seen things like that about your own name. You might know what is the meaning of your name. And indeed, new parents spend lots of time choosing names for their babies. I'm not sure what the criteria are these days for name choosing. I sometimes have the feeling that the most important criteria is 'nafness', if there is such a word. There are lots of quite obscure names these days which don't seem to mean very much. They may be chosen with love, but I'm not sure that much thought goes into what the name actually says about the child it's given to.

You might think I'm totally off beam saying this sort of thing but I'm only saying it to reinforce the fact that until recently, a name really did mean something and it was chosen, particularly so in ancient times, so that some of the characteristics of the name might actually be shown in the person carrying it. Because it was believed that there was a power in the name; and that knowing the name of a person gave you more than a good insight into who and what that person was, it gave you knowledge of their being.

And that's why when it comes to the Bible, such great store is placed on peoples' names. The angel that visited Zechariah told him that he was to name his child John. And the archangel Gabriel told Mary that she was to name her child Jesus. The name John, in Hebrew tradition apparently means 'God is gracious'. And you can understand why that would be so significant to Elizabeth and Zechariah in their old age. It said something about God's relationship with them and with their son and also something about their son too as he was a prophet and forerunner of God's grace in Jesus Christ.

'Jesus' means 'God saves', and Emmanuel means 'God is with us.' So the name Jesus has a very deep meaning which describes both His person and work. But there is also a power in the name of Jesus which was recognised as we read in the Bible. We read that the name of Jesus was used to cast out devils and to heal people. Jesus himself told his disciples that whatever they asked the Father for in His name they would receive it. St. Peter said that there was salvation only in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And St. Paul, writing to the Philippians tells them that God has bestowed upon Jesus 'the name above every name, 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.' If you are asked why Christians regard their religion as superior to all the others you only need quote those verses - Philippians 2.10 and 11.

So this event in Jesus' life that we are celebrating today in this worship, the naming of Jesus, is one of the most important moments in Jesus' life. It was a moment that affirmed all that Jesus was and was to become, and all that Jesus is to us - Saviour and God with us; a real power and presence in our lives.

We hear the name of the Lord used so much as a swear word these days. It's a name that, more than any others is abused. And that is a direct attack, if you like, on the fourth commandment - 'You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.' Using the Lord's name as a swear word is simply vicious contempt. Actually, God can stand it. But those who use the Lord's name in that way actually use it to their own damnation. Using the Lord's name like that might upset those of us who hear it, but it damages those who use it that way. What you give out you get back. What you sow you reap. And if you sow contempt, you reap it.

So on this day in which we celebrate the naming and the name of our Lord, let us pray with all earnestness when we come to it later in our liturgy, 'hallowed be your name'. And give the name of Jesus all glory on this first day of a new year and on every day to come.