9-15-24 “It is Only When you Call His Name”

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“It is Only When you Call His Name”

I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: Mr. and Mrs. Brown had two sons. One was named Mind Your Own Business & the other was named Trouble. One day the two boys decided to play hide and seek. Trouble hid while Mind Your Own Business counted to one hundred. Mind Your Own Business began looking for his brother behind garbage cans and bushes. Then he started looking in and under cars until a police man approached him and asked, “What are you doing?” “Playing a game,” the boy replied. “What is your name?” the officer asked. “Mind Your Own Business.” Furious the policeman inquired, “Are you looking for trouble?!” The boy replied, “Why, yes.”

It’s a funny joke, but it highlights how important a name can be. According to biblical references, the Israelites believed that a person’s name reflected their identity and shaped their destiny. This applied not only to people, but also to the names of lands and cities. Several biblical figures had their names changed after significant encounters with God or Jesus, symbolizing a transformation in their identity or purpose.

Here are some notable examples: Abram to Abraham (Genesis 17:5), Sarai to Sarah (Genesis 17:15), Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28), Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9), Simon to Peter (John 1:42; Matthew 16:18), and Hoshea to Joshua (Numbers 13:16). Each of these name changes reflects a significant shift in the person’s mission, or identity in relation to God’s plan.

Yes, a name is very important for everyone, and it functions only when it is called by others. If a name is not used, it no longer serves its purpose as a “name.” Today, I want to talk about the significance of a name, particularly the idea that “a name only fulfills its role when it is called.”

The first notable example comes from Genesis 17:5, where God changes Abram’s name. His original name was Abram, meaning “father of many,” but God said, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram.” The new name, Abraham, means “father of many nations.” God extended His blessing from making Abram the father of many children to the father of many nations. This name change symbolized God’s covenant with Abram, marking a significant turning point in his life. It reflected his new destiny as the patriarch of many nations, including the Israelites, Ishmaelites, and others.

I know many of you use a nickname instead of your full name. Do you remember why you started using your nickname, when, and what made you choose it? My original name is Eun Ae Lee, but I didn’t like my name when I was a child. Whenever someone called me “Eun Ae,” I felt like it made me seem like a very weak girl. However, after becoming a Christian, I realized that my name wasn’t just given to me by my parents—it might have been given to me by God. This is because it means “Grace (Eun) and Love (Ae).”

Yes, I am someone who cannot live without God’s grace and love. Until I came to understand this, I wandered through life, thinking I could handle everything on my own. However, after a significant car accident, I realized that I can do nothing by myself—it’s only through God’s grace and love (Eun Ae) that I can move forward.

When I was preparing to come to the U.S., my teacher told me, “It might be better for you to have an English name. An English name will help you blend into American culture and make good friends there.” She then gave me the name “Jenny.” However, I didn’t use it for almost ten years after arriving in the U.S. It wasn’t until 2016, when I was preparing for ministry after completing my Ph.D., that I started using the name “Jenny.”

It’s true—using this name marked a turning point in my life. Many people began calling me “Jenny,” and as a result, they felt closer to me, and I made more friends. My name “Eun Ae” reflects my identity as a person of God, while my nickname “Jenny” helps me open my mind, heart, and door to see, learn from, and understand diverse people and cultures.

In today’s scripture, Jesus seems to reflect on the importance of a name. On his journey toward Jerusalem, where he would suffer and die, he intentionally stopped in Caesarea Philippi with his disciples. In this passage, we encounter two figures whose names were tied to God’s mission: Jesus and Peter.

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” They responded quickly, uttering, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.” People couldn’t quite identify who Jesus was. Even his disciples didn’t fully understand his identity—they called him “Teacher” (Rabbi). So, Jesus pressed them further, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” This was the response Jesus had been waiting for.

At that moment, Jesus was identified by his true name: Messiah. The word “Messiah” means “God’s anointed one,” “Savior,” and “the Lord.” After Peter’s confession, Jesus began to teach his disciples about his mission: “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). In this way, Jesus shifted from being called “Teacher” to being known as the “Messiah,” confirming his mission. He became the Messiah for all nations and all humankind.

What about Peter? His original name was Simon, son of John. Like his father, Simon was a fisherman until his encounter with Jesus. He was called Simon until the moment his name was changed, as we see in today’s scripture. The Gospel of Matthew provides a detailed account of this event. In response to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:16-17).

After this confession, Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter. He said, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19a). As we know, Peter became the foundational figure of the Christian Church. Many Christians believe that Peter is the keeper of the gates of heaven because of this passage.

You may reflect on your name, its meaning, and whether you live according to that meaning. However, a more important consideration is that after encountering Jesus, we are given a new name: “Christian,” which confirms our identity and mission. The term “Christian” means “follower of Christ” or “belonging to Christ.” We should live according to our new name, “Christian,” by following our Messiah, Jesus Christ. Christians are identified by their actions—loving God and loving our neighbors as Jesus taught and exemplified.

Therefore, intentionally call Jesus your Savior, Healer, Protector, Comforter, and Messiah. When you call on Him by these names, He will save you and help you whenever you reach out to Him. This can only happen when you call His name, as a name functions through being called. Who do you say Jesus is for you? Thanks be to God. Amen!