Several years ago the press...
Illustration
Several years ago the press carried an item about an individual who requested permission of the courts to change his name to a number! His request was probably due, in part, to the de-humanization many experience in today's world where personal identity is reduced to a set of figures on a medical file, a Social Security Card or an IRS record. John's description of Jesus and his first encounters with some of his disciples shows the importance of the question, "What's in a name?"
From this passage, we can assert, everything! Jesus is called Lamb of God, Messiah and Rabbi and he renames Simon as Peter. What was the purpose of all this name-claiming? It is a radical reflection of the belief that we are what we are called. Our names are not superfluous but say something intrinsic about our nature and actions. As the baptized we are called by name and claimed for discipleship. We are named as those known intimately to God.
-- Hedahl
From this passage, we can assert, everything! Jesus is called Lamb of God, Messiah and Rabbi and he renames Simon as Peter. What was the purpose of all this name-claiming? It is a radical reflection of the belief that we are what we are called. Our names are not superfluous but say something intrinsic about our nature and actions. As the baptized we are called by name and claimed for discipleship. We are named as those known intimately to God.
-- Hedahl
