For a few minutes this morning, I would like you to think about your name. Is it a good name? If you could have named yourself, would you have chosen the same name? There is a meaning behind every name, what is the meaning behind yours? My name means, “strong, a powerful ruler.” Wow. Cheryl’s means love, dear one, or caring. So together we are loving, caring powerful rulers. Names are important and have been since time began.
We spoke briefly about this in our Bible Study. Think back to Biblical times. Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes wrestled with God, and God changed his name to Israel. In Genesis, chapter 32, God said to Jacob, “Your name shall longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” And from that point on, Jacob (Israel) was blessed. He said “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” Israel is called Israel today because of Jacob’s faithfulness. And from that point on, God used him in a powerful way in spite of his limp, as we have talked about before. And God uses each of us in spite of our limps.
Think of other names. Joseph, Mary, Rahab, Paul, Peter, Esther, Ruth, John.
We are reading from the Gospel of John, chapter 1 verses 25-32. John opens his Gospel with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He, Jesus Christ, was in the beginning with God and all things were made through Him and without Him, nothing was made.” Sounds rather definite doesn’t it? John goes on to talk about the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, the future rejection of Christ, the acceptance of Christ and the incarnation of Christ – all in the first chapter. We pick up at the time John the Baptist was being questioned by the Pharisees and Levites about his own identity. John quoted a verse from Isaiah and then, speaking from the Jordan River he said: “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who is coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” This is He of whom I spoke earlier. And John bore witness saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. This is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. Again, the next day, John stood with two of his own disciples. And looking at Jesus as he walked he said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (translated Teacher) where are you staying? He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying and remained with Him that day – now it was about the tenth hour (according to the Roman method of the day beginning at midnight, it would have been ten in the morning.)
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah (Jesus Christ), and he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him He said, you are Simon, the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas which is translated a stone. The term Cephas means a small rock in Aramaic which is translated “Peter” in Greek, or Petros. Jesus’ assignment of the name Cephas, or Peter to Simon occurred at the outset of His ministry. The statement not only is predictive of what Peter would be called but also declarative of how Jesus would transform his character and use him in relationship to the foundation of the church.
We read in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus refers to Peter as the rock and “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” And when Jesus referred to Peter as the rock in Matthew, the Greek was “Petra” which means a foundation builder. So a man originally referred to as a small rock, became known as a man with boulder-like strength and faith to carry out Christ’s commission for the church. How important is a name?
I would like you to think about your name, and how God can use you as He used Peter. When Jesus first called Peter, He left everything He had and followed Him. God has called each of you by name. Do we do the same? Do we trust without doubt? Do we have faith that could move mountains?
People are significant and we can make a difference. A week ago yesterday, June 6th was the 65th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, “D-Day” during World War II. Where were you that day? If you go to Normandy today, spread across the wind swept hills, you’ll find rows and rows of white crosses. We’re free today because during the three month battle of Normandy, nearly fifty-three thousand people paid the ultimate price to defeat Nazi tyranny. No fewer than 9,400 grave markers overlook Omaha Beach, many of them bearing the names of men who died during the first hours of this invasion in France. Beneath every white marker lies a person of significance because each one had an impact on the rest of history, each one made a difference. It is a very moving place to be. Visitors frequently weep quietly because there the real heroes of the war are silently honored. If you’ve made a trip to Washington DC and stood before the Viet Nam memorial you’ll experience the same. Name after name listed on the wall, men and women of significance who made a difference. What about you.
Chuck Swindoll, Pastor, prolific writer and teacher asks two questions in his book entitled “Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives.” What about you.
“Would you like to be a person of significance or a person of renown?” The answer to that question can shape the rest of our lives. For the vast majority, we would choose significance. God can use each of us to make a difference in the small corners of our lives. Our families, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors. Integrity, character, Christ-like examples.
“Which is more important to you; the quality of your impact on the world or the size of it?” A probing question, think about it. Most of us are conditioned by the world to think we can have both, but we really only have one. And I believe we know the answer.
How far did Jesus travel to make an impact for thousands of years to follow? The Bible is filled with accounts regarding how God used people in powerful ways. Yes, we are motivated by knowing the lives of David, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul. But there are hundreds more who left a huge mark, but perhaps in a smaller way. Hosea, Micah, Amos, James, Mary Madeline.
Who taught Martin Luther his theology and inspired his translation of the Scriptures from Latin to German?
Who spoke to Dwight L. Moody in the shoe store that day, a conversation that ultimately led Moody to Christ, which in turn led to a magnificent life of evangelism?
Who was the elderly lady who prayed for Billy Graham every day of her adult life, especially as his ministry reached worldwide significance?
Who gave Charles Wesley his start as a composer, leaving the church with more than five thousand hymns?
How important is a name? Can we make a difference? I think we can.
This is a wonderful story. Not theological but it certainly talks about the importance of a name.
His name was Butch O’Hare. One of the hero’s of World War II. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to the ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of enemy fighters was speeding its way toward the American fleet. Since all the American fighters were gone, the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn’t reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of the enemy planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber bullets blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised plane after another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all of his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as he could, rendering them unfit to fly.
He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the exasperated enemy squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon his return he checked in and told his amazing story. The film from the camera mounted on the wing told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch’s daring attempt to protect his fleet. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nation’s highest military honors. A name we’re not all that familiar with. Today, O’Hare airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
Back in the 1920’s there lived a man named Easy Eddie. At that time, Al Capone virtually owned the city. Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. His exploits were anything praiseworthy. He was however notorious for bootlegged liquor, prostitution and murder. Easy Eddie was Al Capone’s lawyer and for a good reason. He was very good! In fact, his skill at legal maneuvering kept big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie also got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire city block. Yes, Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocities that went on around him.
Eddie did have one soft spot however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had the best of everything – clothes, cars and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach his son right from wrong. He wanted him to be a better man than he was.
Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things that Eddie couldn’t give his son. A good example and a good name.
One day Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Offering his son a good name was far more important than all the riches. He had to rectify all of the wrong that he had done. He would go top authorities and tell them the truth about Al Capone. He would try to clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this he would have to testify against the mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. But he wanted to be a good example, and he wanted his son to have a good name. So he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago street.
By the way, Easy Eddie’s son was named Butch O’Hare.
