"The Name Given" The Circumcision and Name of Jesus [Observed] New Year’s Eve December 31, 2013 Luke 2:21
The Gospel reading for the Circumcision and Name of Jesus is brief. But there’s a lot more in there than just some info that oh by the way Jesus was circumcised. There’s more than enough to unpack in that alone for the first month or two of the coming year. But for this brief time we have left in this year, let’s focus on one little fact: when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. He was called Jesus. This was the name given by the angel to Mary. When you are born you are given a name. This happened to Jesus. He was given a name. I wonder what name Joseph and Mary would have chosen for their firstborn child. There’s no way to know. Their plans for starting a family sure took a different turn from the way they had thought they would. But what happened instead was far beyond what they could ever have imagined! They had a son, but a son that was announced beforehand. A son that was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. A son that was named beforehand. The name was given by God because the name was the very essence of God Himself. And this Son was the very God Himself. God of God, light of light, very God of very God. He was begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. This was not just any son, this was God coming to save His people. Luke tells us that the name given to Jesus was given by the angel. This name was given by God Himself, from the mouth of the angel. Luke doesn’t tell us anymore than that at this point. In the second book he would write, the book of Acts, Luke tells us something about this name given to Jesus in the words of the apostle Peter: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12] It’s not just that Jesus was given a name, everyone is given a name. Jesus’ name is the name by which we are saved. One of the names for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh. The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves.” No wonder the angel said that you are to call His name Jesus. No wonder this was the name given to Him. When Jesus was circumcised and given His name His parents were setting Him on His path of saving people from their sins. Names have meanings. The name of Jesus means salvation. This is another way of saying that Jesus is salvation. Salvation is not an idea. There is a name to salvation and it is Jesus. Jesus doesn’t show us salvation or point us to it or guide us in it or lead us to it. He just saves us. When parents give their baby a name, the baby is named after the grandmother, or a special friend, or the name has a certain special meaning, or perhaps they just really like the name. Mary and Joseph didn’t realize the full import of giving their baby the name they gave Him. They were faithful in carrying out the directive of the angel Gabriel, you shall call Him Jesus. In living on this earth Jesus was carrying out the import of that name. He lived under the Law as we do and fulfilled God’s Law in its entirety. This was Jesus accomplishing salvation for us. It was especially in His suffering and death that Jesus fulfilled the giving of the name to Him. It was in suffering and death that Jesus accomplished salvation because Satan, the liar and deceiver that he is, had his claim on us. At the cross God reclaimed us in the name of His Son, Jesus. The name given to Jesus shows us who He is. It shows us our salvation. It shows us that in His life, His suffering, and His death, Yahweh saves us. It shows us how, in His only Son. It also shows us the importance of the name. It is in this name Jesus that we know who God is. The person of Jesus is how God has revealed Himself to the world. Jesus was God’s only Son being forsaken by the Father on the cross. This was so that you and I could be reclaimed by God the Father has His sons and daughters. Because of this the name of Jesus has particular significance for you. You are given a name. God gives you His name. It was at your Baptism. This is the name you go with into the new year. It is the name that was placed upon you and that you carry with each day even to eternity. When you were Baptized, God placed His name on you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You were given a name at your birth and a name at your rebirth. Your parents named you when you were born and God named you when you were born anew. The name of the Triune God is the name given to us by Jesus. He said to make disciples of all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. When you are Baptized in this name you are Baptized into Christ. The second reading this evening says it this way: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The name given you in Baptism is salvation being given to you. It is Jesus being given to you. Christ is your new identity now. Your name is important to you. And it should be. Your parents gave it to you and it’s how you are known. Because of Jesus, there is also a name given you that is important for you forever. It’s how you are known by God. He gives you His name. In the name of Jesus is salvation, and this is exactly what He gives you. Amen. SDG -- Pastor Paul L. Willweber Prince of Peace Lutheran Church [LCMS] 6801 Easton Ct., San Diego, California 92120 619.583.1436 princeofpeacesd.net three-taverns.net It is the spirit and genius of Lutheranism to be liberal in everything except where the marks of the Church are concerned. [Henry Hamann, On Being a Christian] _______________________________________________ Sermons mailing list Sermons@cat41.org http://cat41.org/mailman/listinfo/sermons
