The Name by Jerry Hill
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. (Luke 2:21)
The Name
My Grandpa Barnes was born on Christmas day in 1900. We always knew exactly when his birthday was and how old he was. He would joke that when he was a kid, he always received a pair of socks – one sock for Christmas and one sock for his birthday! Grandpa Barnes only had three daughters. Thus, there was no one to carry on the Barnes name from his branch of the family.
Several years after Grandpa Barnes had died, Janet and I had our first child. After he was born, I called my mom to tell her the news. After I had given her all the vital statistics, she asked if this little boy had a name yet. I replied, “Yes, he is Adam Barnes Hill. We named him after Grandpa.” There was silence on the other end of the phone. Finally, in an emotional voice all she could say was “Call Mother and tell her.” So, my next call was to Grandma Barnes. The call repeated itself. After all the statistics, I said, “Grandma, his name is Adam Barnes. We named him after Grandpa.” Again, silence on the other end of the call. Then I could hear her softly crying. Finally, she was able to say “Really?”
Just a name. But it was much more than that to my mom and Grandma. It encapsulated the person. All the memories. All the love. It reminded them of who he was and what he meant to them. It was not just a name to those two.
The second chapter of Luke tells us the Christmas Eve story. Perhaps the most familiar passage in all of scripture. The journey to Bethlehem. The stable and the manger. The shepherds and the angels. On this holy night, we focus on those events. We have nativity sets in our homes. We gather and read this well-known story. Just beyond those familiar verses Luke tells us that “he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.”
Just a name. But so much more. Isaiah describes Jesus as Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The book of Revelation names Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In other places in the scripture, he is the Lamb of God, Immanuel, and Savior. When Jesus asked Peter who he was, Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus. So much more than just a name. Each of us might have our own titles for Jesus based upon our experiences – comforter, companion, healer, strengthener, or helpmate. May each of us, on this day and every day, embrace all the characteristics and all the blessings that flow from that name. . . Jesus.
Almost fourteen years ago, I received a call from Adam telling me that his first child had been born. After all the statistics, he said, “We named him Jackson Barnes Hill”. My response, “Call your Grandma and tell her.”
So much more than just a name.