Sunday, January 1, 2023

First Sunday after Christmas, the Name of Jesus
First Sunday after Christmas Day: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52
Holy Name of Jesus: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4:4-7 or Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21
New Year’s Day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46

When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

We have so many choices of focus for next Sunday’s worship. Do we stick with the lessons for the First Sunday after Christmas which continues the story of the Nativity week which is less than idyllic peace and joy. Life is chaotic, even for the Son of God. We can use the texts for the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. This focus helps us to remember that Jesus’ name means something. There are even texts that celebrate the coming of a new year, which remind us that the old passes away giving room to something new. (I have included the text assignments for all three above.)

The Name of Jesus happens on a Sunday only as often as Christmas happens on a Sunday, which is follows a pattern. The next time it will happen is in eleven years, then six years after that, then five years, then another six years, and then back to eleven. Also, since I spent most of this month writing about so many secular celebrations of Jesus, it would be good to look at the ancient celebration of Him more closely. We’ll look at the New Year for the rest of this week.

Names matter. I have done data processing for a charitable organization in San Antonio. It was an enlightening experience as I have watched name trends over the years. Some parents try to get creative, and they use normal names with unusual spellings. A surprising number of people named their child Abcde (pronounced Absidee.) Some people use their children's names to make a statement, political or otherwise like Destiny or Justice. We’ve seen celebrities use names like Apple, Banjo, Diezel and Brooklyn and bizarre such as Moon Unit or Moxie CrimeFighter. I recall an episode of “Seinfeld” when George was determined to name his not yet conceived son Seven.

When I was pregnant with my daughter Victoria, I was absolutely certain that she was a boy. Bruce and I had decided that he would name any boy children and I would name the girls. Since I believed that I was carrying a boy, I didn’t think I needed to worry about coming up with a name. About a week before she was born, Bruce said, “Honey, this really might be a girl. You should have a name prepared just in case.” I said, “Fine” and blurted out “Victoria.” Even though I had not spent much time thinking about it, I had been through all the books and for some reason that name was on the tip of my tongue. I don’t regret the decision and I don’t think Victoria minds, either. Though we have used the nickname “Vicki” over the years, as an adult she has generally referred to herself as Victoria.

Names often play an important role in stories. In the Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet” it was their name and family relationships that kept them apart. Juliet cries out “‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What’s in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet...”

There was nothing particularly special about the way Bruce and I chose our kids’ names or the way we gave them their names. We didn’t go through a ritual or wait a period of time. We picked a name, wrote it on the paper and began calling them by those names. We may have solemnly announced their names to those who were nearby, and we sent notices to our friends and family announcing their births, but we didn’t follow any age old traditions in choosing or giving their names, as happens in many societies.

Some traditions use family names, especially those of deceased loved ones to keep their memory alive through the generations. Others honor the living by naming children after relatives or friends. Many cultures wait a few days to have a naming ceremony, often at seven days, with special food and rituals. In China, they have eggs died red to symbolize new life and good luck. Other traditions use rice and saffron in the ceremony. Some traditions use fake names in the beginning, to ward off or fool evil spirits. In some places the baby’s name is given when he or she is thought to be able to hear, and it is whispered in their ear first. Some families provide a sacrifice as an offering of thankfulness for the baby. In one Native American culture, the baby sleeps with an ear of corn for a month and then the corn is rubbed on its skin while the baby is facing the rising sun and is named at the moment the first rays hit.

Some of the rituals and traditions sound so odd to us because we are used to naming our children whatever we want. We go through baby books and listen to trends; we make up our own names, using creative juxtapositions of letters from other names or words. Some celebrities have become infamous for their odd names for their children. In some societies, however, the parents did not even have a choice. The names are given by elders or masters. In others, the expectation is to give names that will help the child rise in stature or succeed in their world. Names mean something, which is why we try to give our children the right name.

Though names these days do not seem quite as important as in days of old, we do set aside one day a year to consider the name above all other names: Jesus. The Gospel lesson does not focus only on Jesus’ name; as a matter of fact, the naming of Jesus takes only one verse in Luke.

It is interesting that the Gospel lesson for the Name of Jesus is about the visit from the shepherds that had been visited by a host of angels who gave them good news. “A child has been born.” They did not sit around and wait to hear more or think about what had happened. They hurried off to find the child lying in a manger, just as was promised. When they found the child, they told His mother everything they had seen. She marveled at their story.

Can you imagine? She was a young virgin, without husband, and yet she was pregnant with the Son of God. She knew this because she'd been visited by an angel. She gave birth in a place with a manger, taken there by Joseph her betrothed that accepted her despite her condition. He accepted the child because an angel had visited them. Then, after the birth, she was visited by the shepherds. This was all too unbelievable, but Mary believed. She listened and treasured all of these things in her heart.

Mary and Joseph did not have to read through dozens of baby name books or think about which family members to honor by using their name. When they were visited by God’s messengers, they were both told His name is Jesus. His naming happened as it should with all good Jewish boys, at His circumcision. Jesus would have been dedicated to the Lord on the eighth day, circumcised according to the traditions of the Jews. According to Luke 2:21 He was named Jesus that day; He was given the name that had been told to Mary and Joseph before He was born.

The Gospel lesson for the first Sunday after Christmas shows how Mary and Joseph followed all the traditions according to the Law of Moses. Forty days after Jesus was born Mary had to go to the Temple to be purified. They offered the proper sacrifices, but the visit was something special; it was the fulfillment of more promises. While at the Temple, Mary, Joseph and Jesus met two people who were awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. They knew, without a doubt, that they had seen Him in flesh. Simeon, an old man who was righteous and devout, was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. The moment he saw Jesus, Simeon cried, “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

What a marvelous promise fulfilled in a baby! And yet, we are reminded that with the promise of salvation came great pain and suffering. Simeon blessed the family but turned to Mary and told her the truth. “Your soul will be pierced.” Salvation would come at a price, and Mary among all people would feel the pain in a very real way.

The other person that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus met that day was an older woman, a prophetess named Anna, who had been living in the Temple for many years. She worshipped, fasted, and prayed constantly. At the moment Anna saw Jesus, she knew that God’s promises were fulfilled in Him. She began to praise God and tell everyone that the Redeemer they were waiting for had arrived. Isn’t it amazing that these two people, Simeon and Anna, seemed to live to an old age for one very specific purpose: to praise God for Jesus. Mary and Joseph marveled. They marveled? They were amazed? I suppose that could be true, but I have to wonder what it means that they were amazed? Was it surprising to hear these things about their son? How could that be? After all, they both were met by angels who told them all these things. They knew going into this parenthood that Jesus was special. They knew He came from God. They knew He was the promised one. How could they be amazed by the words of Simeon and Anna?

Mary and Joseph continued to be amazed at what was happening to them, even though they had knowledge about Jesus and His future. Throughout the Nativity story they experienced the faithfulness of God in new, miraculous ways. As we read the story about Mary and Joseph, their response helps us to realize that no matter how well we know God and understand the scriptures, we should still view God as surprising every day.

Jesus truly was an extraordinary child. Miraculous, even. Why take the time to celebrate His name?

Isn’t what Shakespeare wrote true? Wouldn’t Jesus by any other name still have been the salvation, the redemption, the promised child of God? Though it is not always so in this day and age, names in the Bible did have purpose. Often the name itself has some special meaning. Other names are given to define a purpose or characteristic. God is given dozens of names in the scriptures: Creator, Almighty God, Father, the Lord our Righteousness, “I AM.” Jesus is identified by certain names, like the Light of the World, Savior, Redeemer, the Son of God. Even the Holy Spirit has special names: the Counselor and Comforter.

We see this also in the names God gave to the people in the Old Testament. Abraham meant “the father of many.” Isaac’s name comes from a root that means “to laugh.” Jacob meant “supplanter.” When Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, God changed their relationship. The new name meant “God contends” and in changing the name of Jacob, God established that though we struggle against God, we are to cling to Him.

In the Old Testament, people were made part of Israel through a blessing; God’s name was spoken over the people. “‘Yahweh bless you, and keep you. Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’ So they shall put my name on the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” They are blessed by the name of God.

In Psalm 8, God’s name is exalted. “Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens!” The psalmist then prophesied about Jesus, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor.” This text reminds us of God’s special bond with humankind, but also points to the One who would be crowned our King in a most unusual way.

God’s name is excellent, but the Old Testament scriptures promised that the day would come when a new name would bring salvation. It is not the name of another god, but a new name for God. He would be Immanuel, the God in flesh who dwells among us. The name of Jesus is important because Jesus means Savior. This Savior was born in flesh to dwell with us, to die for us, and to be raised to new life for our sake. Jesus Christ was born a King, but it was on the cross that He was crowned and glorified.

I saw a meme this morning that began by showing how few went to see Jesus when He came the first time, but then showed that the whole world we see Jesus when He comes again. Paul wrote to the Philippians that the name of Jesus is the name above all other names, that at His name every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. It is His name we take when we are baptized, we become Christians by faith in His name. His name is written on our hearts and on our heads. In His name we are adopted and made heirs of the Kingdom of God. And then as Christians we bear His name into all the world that all those who hear might be blessed and become heirs with us to the promises of God.

We are called to be like Simeon and Anna. We’ve been created with one sole purpose: to praise God for Jesus. Oh, we have other work to do. We are called to use our gifts and share the Gospel. We are called to be disciples and to share our resources with our neighbors. We are called to be just and generous and faithful. We are called to live as Christ in this world and to invite others into His presence.

The days on the church calendar following the Nativity of Jesus were chaotic. We remember the martyrdom of Stephen, the persecution of John, and the massacre of the Innocents. We don’t understand why men like Stephen and babies had to die or why any Christian should suffer. God does not mind our questions. He joins us in our tears. He mourns with us that the world is full of evil. But instead of choosing to live a life in which we take matters into our own hands, we are called to live a life of praise and thanksgiving. We can face the possibility of suffering with the knowledge that God has indeed heard our cry and saved us. He sent Jesus Christ, not only to model a godly life but also to bring us the hope that only comes through death and resurrection. His purpose for coming was first and foremost to die. That’s why He was named Jesus.

Jesus lived an amazing life. He walked in the world with power and authority, granting healing and forgiveness to those who believed. He lived as a model for us today, so that we might follow and life the godly life. All of this is pointless, though, without the cross. On that cross He set us free from all that has us bound in this world so that we can be all that we were created to be. We can’t walk holy without forgiveness. We can’t live godly without grace. We are called by that grace to speak the Gospel to our enemies, telling the story of Christ no matter what suffering we may face. Despite the persecution we might face, we are called to tell the story of God’s love and sacrifice to the world.

It is easy for us to get caught up in the cares of the world, even those that really have no value. Think about the cares of Mary and Joseph, yet they were able to be amazed by the most extraordinary circumstances around the birth of their baby boy.

There are situations in life that need our attention, that need to be resolved with hard work. Most of the things we worry about are really pointless. They can be dealt with simply and quickly if only we would let go. I suppose what it really takes is putting everything in perspective. Can our worry change the situation? Can it make a difference to someone else? Will the world be a better place because of how we dealt with the situation? Most often the answer to these questions is no. Most often we would do well to let go and move on to more fruitful work. Most often we would do more to turn to God and ask Him to remove the worry so that we can accomplish something that will really make a difference in the world. That’s what Mary and Joseph did when the were obedient to God.

Our little troubles are really insignificant when we consider the amazing things God has done. He created the entire world and everything in it. He redeemed all of mankind by the blood of Christ. He brought salvation to our lives in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. He ordained His people to service and promised to do even greater things through His Church.

The world around us might be chaotic. We might suffer for a moment. We might have difficult work to do in this world. But no matter what we face, we believe in the God of the heavens and the earth and His Son whose name is Jesus. If only we would spend some time each day just praising God, singing songs of adoration and admiration like we hear in today’s psalm, we might realize more quickly how inconsequential our troubles really are and how extraordinary the life our God has given to us really is.