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St John's Gospel: Names
SERMON – 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 24th May 2009
Revd. Canon David Pickering
John 17; 6
'Father, I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world.
Our esteemed Sacristan and Server, Alexander, is setting out on a noble task later this year. He's going to join a group studying St John's Gospel. I have promised to try and help by bringing back some of my relevant books on the subject when we return from Europe this summer. I also wish him well and the best of luck in his venture. Of all the Gospels John is perhaps the most detailed, complicated and challenging, and no more so that in today's reading from chapter 17, commonly called Christ's High Priestly Prayer.
John does not waste a single word, so every word has much thought and meaning.
Let's keep it simple and focus on just one; 'Name'
It occurs twice in this morning's passage.
The words of our text verse 6 'Father, I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world.
vv 11 & 12 Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me.
A name is important, our names are important.
Some interesting names in the reading from Acts.
Replacement of Judas – reading spares the gory details – expect you will now go and read verses 18 & 20.
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Matthias chosen but we hear and know nothing else about him.
Names are very important.
Family name, functional name or title.
Bishop David Hope the former Archbishop of York, had the title the Rt. Revd. & Rt. Hon. Dr David Hope, Archbishop of York, Grand Metropolitan and Primate of All England, but preferred to be known by his baptism name David.
There is a lot in a name
Ever looked up what your own name means?
Names book popular in the Hathersage Church bookstall.
It was very important in ancient times to know the name of the tribal god.
It gave permission and authority to call upon that god, and to know the name was an assurance that the god would have a protective role. This idea perhaps lies behind this morning's phrase protect them in your name.
In the Exodus story of at the burning bush, Moses says he cannot go back to Egypt without knowing the name of God.
Genesis 3 But Moses said to God, 'If I come to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your ancestors has sent me to you", and they ask me, "What is his name?" what shall I say to them?' God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM' He said further, 'Thus say to the Israelites " I AM has sent me to you."' God also said to Moses, ' Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you": This is my name for ever, and this is my title for all generations.
LORD YHWH HAYAH – to be
God is the one who is. He is Being and existence itself.
Also in the Old Testament Jerusalem was to be the dwelling place of God's name.
A sign of the coming messianic age would be that God would make his name known.
Isaiah 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore on that day they shall know that it is I who speaks; here am I.
And of course the name Jesus means everything to us. At the name of Jesus.
To the name that brings salvation
Remember the name we are known by is how God knows us – for eternity.
The name of any other person is to be respected and honoured – an aspect of their being created in the image of God.
To know some ones name and to be known by name establishes a relationship.
Introduce myself by my name, rather than I am the vicar or the rector.
Schoolchildren in Hathersage moved from knowing me as Mr Pickering, to calling me David….
More important how God knows.
Sums up our identity, especially our identity with God.
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