What's in a Name?
My only time touring about the UK was in the summer of 2012. I was on sabbatical, and part of it was to take in a week of lectures in Oxford. The week at St. Edmond’s Hall allowed for little trips to look around the area. I went with a new friend to see Blenheim, the lavish estate historically connected to the Duke of Marlborough. It is the birthplace of Winston Churchill whose mother was visiting the lady of the house, her sister when the time came to deliver.
I bring it up not for history, but to recall the fun and simple thing that happened to me: a thing that has happened to us all. I was waking up the long drive toward the palace passed many departing tourists and I heard my name called, “David!” I looked all around, searching for who was calling, and wondering if they meant me.
As it happened one of my son’s high school English teachers and her friend, whom I also knew from our small town, Alvin, was traveling and sightseeing, just as I was. We happened to be among the hundreds at this spot on the very same day at the very same time. I am sure you have had uncanny “small world” experiences. What I am holding up here though is the power in a name. It was the hearing of my name that stopped me.
People’s names are connected to them in some sense and can be thought of as connected to their being, carrying an element of them. In practical terms, hearing your name has the power to stop you, and get you looking around. In the story of Peter and John, healing the man, lame from birth in Acts 3, it is the name of Jesus that is the locus of the power of healing. Peter invokes the name of Jesus in the occurrence. Then, addressing the onlookers, he testifies that it is the name of Jesus that brought about the healing of this beggar:
While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. Peter addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ... And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. —Luke 3: 1-12, 16
Some scholars say that the name “Jesus” is derived from the old Hebrew name Joshua or Yeshua, and carries in it the meaning “God delivers, saves, heals.”How perfect for the Rabbi who ushered in the kingdom of God to the human community.
The man who sat all his life begging by the Beautiful Gate of the Temple had a whole new life after Peter and John looked him straight in the eye and, in the power of the holy name of Jesus, urged him to his feet to walk with his legs restored. By the power of that name, you too are restored and in the steady progression of being made holy.
When someone calls your name, you turn. Jesus has called your name and you have turned to him. As you do, he blesses you with the saving, healing grace of his name. Let all that is within you bless his holy Name.