‘The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.’ (John 10:3)
In Shakespeare’s play, Juliet discovers her love Romeo is part of a rival family — the Montague family. She, a Capulet, ponders the importance of names: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called.” But an amusing thing happens next: Romeo renounces his name. But now, without a name, he can’t tell Juliet who he is as she calls out to him from that famous balcony!
Names are important. We’re going to unpack two reasons why names are important, especially in light of our focus on welcoming one another.
1. Calling by name begins a personal relationship
Do farmers know the names of all their sheep? I was talking with a farmer this week, and jokingly asked if he called all his sheep by name. He joked back saying he only had four different names for all his sheep, but couldn’t use any of those names in my presence!
We hear an amazing thing in our gospel reading: the shepherd calls all his sheep by name. He has a personal relationship with his sheep. He knows each one by name.
Jesus is the good shepherd. He calls you by name. He knows each one of you intimately. More so, he desires a personal relationship with you. He said in your baptism: “[Name], I baptize you in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” This was the first time he called you by name.
God is not some lofty philosophical construct or idea invented by humans. God is three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As persons, God invites you to have a personal relationship with Him. It’s such a simple beginning — calling you by name in baptism — but it’s the start of a life-long personal relationship. He speaks to you, and desires that you speak to him.
Last week I challenged you to consider who the ‘weak’ and vulnerable are in our congregation and community. I know some of you took on this challenge: some picked up the phone, others went visiting. Well done, keep it up! Keep on welcoming others as Christ has welcomed you, reaching out your hand to support the ‘little guy.’
This week I challenge you to welcome someone who’s name you don’t know. (1) Ask their name. (2) Remember it! How? Use the name straight away. Make an association. Use their name again at the end. Write it down.
A name is the start of a personal relationship. I wonder what relationship might blossom and grow from the simple beginning of welcoming someone whose name you don’t know?
2. Calling by name promises a future
Jesus the good shepherd calls you, his sheep, by name. After this beginning, Jesus then leads his sheep out. The name is just the start of a personal relationship and this relationship leads somewhere. The sheep come out and go in, under the watchful eye of the shepherd. But why? ‘To find pasture’ (John 10:9). This is a word picture for the new creation, the new heavens and new earth where there will be no tears, no pain, no grief, no sickness, no death. Life everlasting. Life to the full. Green pastures.
There are some studies which suggest that your name affects your success in life. ‘Some recent research suggests that names can influence choice of profession, where we live, whom we marry, the [school] grades we earn, … whether [we] are hired for a particular job, and the quality of our work in a group setting. Our names can even determine whether we give money to disaster victims: if we share an initial with the name of a hurricane, according to one study, we are far more likely to donate to relief funds.’ [1] The methodology of these studies has since been questioned, and perhaps they’re outdated and no longer apply, but it’s an interesting thought that your name can affect your future.
Ancient people chose names based on their hope for their child, the future they envisaged for their ancestors. For example the name “Abram” probably meant “[the] father [is] exalted,” meaning that Abram was of noble birth. His earthly father was a king (the head of the tribe) and he wanted his son to be a king. This was the future he saw and hoped for his son. But God calls Abram by a new name: “Abraham,” inserting an “h” and therefore changing the second part of his from “exalted” to “wealth/abundance/ multitude” i.e. “[the] father [of] multitudes.” By calling Abraham by name, God confirms His earlier promise when He said to Abram: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you … and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2–3).
Jesus was also given a name which promised a specific future. The angel appears to Mary and says, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). The name “Jesus” has become so common place to us today that we can easily miss the significance of this name. It comes from the Hebrew “Yeshua,” which in verb form means “to deliver, to rescue, to save.” From birth, from the very name given by his Father in heaven, Jesus is promised as the one who saves all people. He is the descendent of Abraham who will bless all peoples on earth. The account of Jesus’ naming in the gospel of Matthew makes this crystal clear, with the angel telling Joseph, “[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is not only the good shepherd who calls and leads us, but he has come into our very midst as one of us, as a sheep. He was a sheep without blemish, the Lamb of God who made the ultimate sacrifice: shedding his blood, washing us clean through his death and resurrection. He completed the promise given in his very name.
In your baptism, when God called you by name, you too were promised a future. Through the name of Jesus, God promises to save you from sin. You are saved from everything that separates you from God, you are saved from all that is broken in this world, rescued from feeling empty and worthless. Everyone who enters through Jesus, everyone who trusts in him and calls on his name, will be saved. Through Jesus you find green pasture, you are united with God, you are healed, filled, and given life and worth. May you have this life, and have it to the full. Now and forever. All through the name of Jesus, who saves. Amen.
[1] https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/why-your-name-matters
