Would You Name Your Son "Judas"?

WOULD YOU NAME YOUR SON, JUDAS?

John 13:1-2, 21-30

John 13:1-2

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

(NIV)

John 13:21-30

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.

23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved,

was reclining next to him.

24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him,

"Lord, who is it?"

26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.

27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,

28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.

29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.

30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out.

And it was night.

(NIV)

What difference does your NAME make?

"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

- William Shakespeare

Take a moment to absorb what Shakespeare penned, it is an interesting proposition which Juliet would pose on Romeo. There is much turmoil that occurs between the Capulet and Montague families, but Juliet has fallen in love with Romeo. One minor problem, he happens to be a Montague. Juliet however, would offer her love to Romeo if he would only give up his name.

Does being called a particular name really make any difference? Ask the daughter of Texas Governor James Hogg, who was the first native born governor of Texas, serving just before the turn of the 20th century. He and wife Sarah didn’t really think much about the name they chose for their daughter. They were simply trying to honor Jim’s brother Thomas, by naming her after the heroine of the Civil War poem he had written. So when their second born discovered America on July 10, 1882, they named their bouncing baby girl, “Ima”.

Miss Hogg later recounted: "My grandfather Stinson lived 15 miles from Mineola and news traveled slowly. When he learned of his granddaughter’s name he came trotting to town as fast as he could to protest but it was too late. The christening had taken place, and Ima I was to remain." Ima Hogg. What a name! Can you imagine introducing yourself? “What is your name?” “Ima Hogg.”

Yet Ima proved herself not to be the least bit “hoggish”. Here are some of the ways Ima Hogg gave of herself and lived down her name:

• She helped found the Houston Symphony Orchestra and served without pay as its president;

• She established the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health;

• As a member of the Houston School Board, she worked to establish symphony concerts for school children and equal pay for teachers regardless of sex or race;

• She restored three former residences and gave the homes away;

• She served on several national committees, one of which planned the building of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Ima Hogg may have started with a bad name, but she made it good!

Proverbs 22:1

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

(NIV)

If you don’t think that a name makes a difference, just tell your employer to someone else name on your check!

What comes to your mind when you hear the name, “JUDAS”?

Psalm 41:9

9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,

he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

(NIV)

Jesus called Judas a DEVIL!

John 6:70-71

70 Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!"

71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

(NIV)

Judas was a THIEF!

John 12:4-6

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,