Exodus 3:1-15, Luke 19:1-10, Mark 9:33-37 | Sunday 17th July 2022 | Pastor Rolly Stahl
Remembering names…
While he grew up in a poor family, Andrew Carnegie became known as ‘The Steel King of America’ and was one of the wealthiest men in the world. How wealthy? At the start of the 20th Century, he was relatively twice as rich as Bill Gates is today. [1]
At an early age, Andrew Carnegie discovered the astonishing importance that people place on their names. As a boy in Scotland, he got hold of a female rabbit. Hey presto, he soon had a whole nest of little rabbits and nothing to feed them. But he had a brilliant idea. He told the neighbourhood boys that if they would go and pull enough clover and dandelions to feed the rabbits, he would name the bunnies in their honour.
The plan worked like magic and Carnegie never forgot it. One of the secrets of his success was remembering and honouring the names of friends and business associates. He was proud of the fact that he could call many of his labourers by their first names. And he boasted that while he was personally in charge, no strike ever disturbed his steel mills. Carnegie won friends and influenced people simply by remembering them by name. [2]
Each of us has a name
Parents invest much time and effort choosing names for their new baby. When others hear of the arrival, what’s the first thing they ask? “What is the baby’s name?” We often want to know the full name – and may ask parents how they decided on those names.
Friends, at our baptism, our full name was announced – and God put his full name on us as we were splashed with promise: “In the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” And we came into a relationship with God and his people that he wants to last forever. So simple, so profound!
Your name gives you a unique identity and sets you apart from other people. While some people change their names, or adopt nicknames, most of us keep our names for a lifetime. You never get sick of people greeting you warmly by name. It’s been said: A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in the English language. [3]
The first part of getting to know someone is finding out that person’s name. When people know your name, they have access to you in a way that they didn’t before. When people call you by name, they get your attention. Knowing a person’s name opens possibilities for relationship.
God reveals his name: I AM
When God calls Moses by name, and calls him to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses says to the Lord: “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” (Ex 3:13-14)
Friends, notice how God doesn’t limit himself to a description, image, or a metaphor. He simply states, “I AM WHO I AM.” We cannot reduce the Creator of the universe to a category or concept that fits into a box of our making. I AM is greater than any image or definition we humans can ever come up with. And yet, the great I AM makes himself known to humanity – and invites us into his restoration plans for his world.
In Jesus, we get to know I AM – up close and personal… as one of us. Several times, Jesus identifies himself as I AM. [4] While some took offense at Jesus, the fact is Jesus does things that only God can do! In Jesus we see the Father’s heart is filled with compassion for us; and that he wants us to know Him personally, intimately, and eternally.
By giving us his name, God opens the way for us to address him and do life with him. We can praise the name of the LORD. We can cry out to our heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for comfort, mercy, wisdom and help. According to the Psalms, we can share everything on our hearts with the Lord – the good, the bad, and even the ugly!
God calls his people by name
The prophet Isaiah addresses the people of Israel during their time in exile. Cut off from their homeland and stuck in Babylon, they’re wondering: “Has God forgotten us? Do we still matter to God? Does God care about us? Does God have a future for us?” The LORD reminds them:
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.” (Isaiah 43:1b-2, 5b-7 NLT)
In other words: “I have NOT forgotten you – because you belong to me! I will bring you through your present trials. I will gather you together to be with me! I summon you by name to share in my glory … for that is why I created you!”
And you want to know something? God makes that same promise to every person on earth through the name of his Son, Jesus! Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV). Life with God and life to the full comes to us through Jesus.
God knows you by name
Can anyone share an example in the Bible when God calls people by name? In the OT: Abraham (Gen 15:1, 17:5, 22:1, 11), Hagar (Gen 21:7), Moses, the boy Samuel (1 Sam 3:4).
I love the story when Jesus passes through Jericho. Despite the crowds around him, Jesus notices a short man in a tree. What did Jesus say to him? “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5 NIV). Imagine the surprise and delight when Zacchaeus heard Jesus call him by name: “I can’t believe it. Jesus knows me by name – and even wants a scoundrel like me to be his friend!” It touched his heart and transformed his life.
Friends, it doesn’t matter what you’ve been up to, or how messed up you are, Jesus knows you by name. He knows everything about you. Regardless of your past mess ups and failures, or your present struggles, Jesus calls you by name to be HIS friend.
The proof is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us… and rose again to give us a hope and a future. In Jesus, the God who created you calls you by name and invites you to do life with him! He is thrilled when people accept his invitation!
Loving people by greeting them by name
Greeting people by name is a great leaf to take out of Jesus’ book! When your name is spoken with warmth, it puts wind in your sails. It encourages you. It lifts your spirits.
In the congregation where I grew up as a child, there was an elderly man, Mr Eckert. While I cannot recall any conversation with him, I remember that Mr Eckert always greeted me warmly by name: “Hello Roland!”
If I’ve got it right, one of the core values of this congregation is to build strong relationships with our young people so they grow a deep sense of belonging in this church family. Yes?
A great place to start is greeting them by name. Imagine being a 5-year-old, a 10-year-old, or a 15-year-old… and every time you mix with the St John’s family, adults of all ages warmly greet you by name.
Imagine the impact THAT would make in the hearts of young people over the years: “In this community you’re valued. You’re accepted. You belong. Your name is important because you matter to us … and you matter to God!”
No matter how young or old you are, one of the simplest ways to build up our St John’s family is warmly greeting one another by name.
Let me admit to you that I don’t always remember people’s names. But I keep working to get better at it. Truth is we can ALL get better at it.
Tips for remembering people’s names
- Give the other person your focussed attention. Instead of thinking of the next thing to say, listen carefully to the other person’s name.
- If you didn’t hear it properly, “Sorry, I didn’t get your name clearly.”
- Repeat the person’s name as soon as you have heard it. “That’s Harrison – is it?” Or: “I’m pleased to meet you, Harrison.”
- If appropriate (i.e. not for “Tom”), ask: “How is that spelt?” This helps visualise the name in your mind.
- Repeat the name several times in your conversation with that person. This not only endears you to the other person, but helps you reinforce that person’s name in your own mind.
- Write down the person’s name as soon as possible, recall it several times over the next few days, and look forward to greeting that person by name next time you meet.
- Family connections help us to remember names. E.g., couples (Jack and Jill Smith), whole families (Jack and Jill Smith, and their children: James, Jeremy, and Julie); or whole names (Jack Andrew Smith, Jill Anita Smith).
- If you forget a person’s name, “Terribly sorry, but for the life of me I can’t remember your name.” Or: “Sorry, I’m having a senior moment. Can you please remind me of your name?”
Maybe some of you remember the TV show: Cheers. The setting was a bar of interesting characters. Does anyone recall the jingle? “Cheers – the place where everyone knows your name.” That could be our slogan: “St John’s – the place where everyone knows your name!” It’s one way we can share Jesus’ love and respect for all. Amen?! (c.1640)
[1] In relative terms, Bill Gates’ billions equal approximately half of Carnegie’s wealth. What made Andrew Carnegie outstanding is not amazing riches, but the philanthropic system that saw him give away nearly all his money in his lifetime. By the time of his death in 1919, he had given away US$350,695,653 with the remaining US$30 million disbursed to foundations, charities and pensioners in his will. Smaller bequests went to his wife and daughter. Source: www2.agsm.edu.au/agsm/web.nsf/Content/AGSMMagazine-NewAltruismAndrewCarnegie
[2] Source: Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends & Influence People, pp.74-75.
[3] Ibid, p.78.
[4] Jesus identifies himself as “I AM”: Mark 14:62, John 8:58. The Greek words: Ego eime are exactly the same as the Greek translation of Exodus 3:14. The same allusions are there in Jesus’ other “I am…” sayings in John (Jn 4:26; 6:35,48,51; 8:12,24,28,58; 10:7,11,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5; 18:5,6,8). God uses the same title/idea of himself in Isaiah (41:4, 43:10, 45:18, 46:4, 52:6)
St John's Lutheran Church, Tea Tree Gully 