Namely speaking

In rummaging around in boxes and such for our move later this month from house to parsonage, I discovered my "original" birth certificate. Long story short, I was adopted when I was about three months. For three months, my name was Peter. I never heard or I don't remember why I was called Peter, but I remember my adopted mother telling me that.

I was named by her and my adopted father, Glenn (with two n's), William (for my dad) Vise (for Dr. Guy T. Vise, who saved my premature infant life) and, of course, Turner.

I was rummaging around in Acts this morning, and I came across this passage in the third chapter, the 16th verse: And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him his perfect health in the presence of all of you."

Just the name itself has power, scripture says.

That's not the way it is with most names today. Names for the most part today are meaningless and they're cheap. It used to be different. Names had a specific purpose. If he was the son of John or Gilbert he was named Johnson or Gilbertson. Or they would call her Bauer or Miller depending on what her father did. If he had a crooked leg he was called Cruikshank. If he lived in a certain place, he was named Hill or Kufeldt. If he was a builder, he was called Zimmerman. If he was a teacher, they called him Schull.

But today names have little meaning. Some are given because we love Grandma or Aunt Mary. But most today name their children on the basis of how a word sounds. It's cute or popular and turns up by the thousands on our elementary rolls. 70-80 years from now our nursing homes will be filled with Ashleys and Caitlyns and Madisons. But the noble names of Walter, Howard or George, of Helen, Rose or Florence, will have disappeared into our memories.

In Biblical times names were closely tied with the person. Often a name was given in the hopes the child would live out its meaning, so he was called Benjamin (son of the right hand) or Abraham (father of many). Or she was to have a certain personality, such as Naomi (pleasant). Or he was to be a messenger of God, so they named him Elijah (Jehovah is God) or Johanna (God is gracious). Thus, when Joseph (May God give you children) called Him Yeshua (God saves) it was for a reason, a true and noble purpose, for He would save His people from their sins.

Today we call Him Jesus but His family called Him Yeshua, or Joshua. "Christ" is a title meaning "chosen one", and its Hebrew equivalent is Messiah. Jesus Christ really means Jesus the Christ, the "Chosen Savior." And of all names, there is no other name greater than Jesus Christ, for there is power in the name of Jesus.

The Bible says: "God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,..." The meaning here rests on what Jesus has done, for, "He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" Though He was humble, there is power in the name of Jesus.

Jesus is the name above all names because He is our Savior. If you and I are rescued from certain death, we will value our rescuer. If we are saved from injury, we will be grateful. But if we are saved and then turn our backs on our Savior, how ungrateful and foolish we are. Yet we seem to do it every day.

Jesus is the name above all names and there is power in His name. His name is love and forgiveness. When we speak His name, the devils cringe in terror. But too often we profane His name, using it to curse or swear. We publicly praise His name, but privately use it for cursing. Or we demean His name by not worshipping Him. Jesus the Christ forgives us for that. He is Lord and He is our Savior.

He loves us and forgives us even when we don't love and forgive each other. He loves us just as we are, but He won't leave us that way for long. He forgives us but He wants us to change for the better. There is power in the name of Jesus. It's a name we respect and honor, a name we worship and adore. Let us always honor the name of God by our actions and words towards others Christ has also forgiven and loved.

I'm not sure if I was a different person for those three months that I was unofficially named Peter; probably not.

But I'm sure I have been a different person since I've accepted the power that is in the name of the one who saves, this Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus, name above all names, precious redeemer, Lamb of God.