In Mark 3 we see Jesus beginning the creation of a new community, a new people who will embody the kingdom of God.
This community is formed as Jesus begins to name and rename his disciples. In ancient times names were extremely important. Naming was an act of great importance and power. Your name was supposed to convey the essence of who you are. So if you went through a great change in life you had to change your name.
Now you might be thinking, that was then not now…
But consider how much money is spent each year on consultants/ marketing firms to name companies and products. And not just companies and products, but people!
For example:
Demetria Guynes became Demi Moore
Gordon Mathew Sumner became Sting.
Marion Michael Morrison became John Wayne
Martha Kostyra became Martha Stewart
They couldn’t reinvent themselves without changing their name. Because changing your name has power. Naming has a shaping power.
Now, ultimately there is a limit to how much power names will exert. Over the years parents have tried desperately to give their children strong and beautiful names in hopes that their child will grow up strong and beautiful. But very often they don’t.
It doesn’t work this way with God.
In Genesis, God doesn’t think things into existence with his mind.
He doesn’t snap things into existence with his fingers.
God names things into existence with his word.
That’s how he creates.
The naming creates the reality.
He called it sky, he called it sea, he called it day, he called it night.
When we name things we describe the nature of the thing we are naming.
When God names he determines the nature of the thing he is naming.
So, when Jesus Christ names, he names like God does. In Mark 3v14, it says Jesus appointed twelve to be apostles. This is a word that means created. It is a Greek word that is used for an artist creating a work of art.
He created them apostles.
He made them apostles.
He didn’t look at them and say, “these guys have what it takes”
He gave them what it took!
Jesus naming has that power.
If you are ugly, and Jesus names you beautiful - he can’t be wrong! His name imparts the beauty. If you are weak, and Jesus names you strong - he can’t be wrong! Jesus has divine power to call into being out of nothing.
So no matter how you feel about yourself - Jesus has a new name for you. In fact, this is one of the chief ways in which Jesus Christ transforms people’s lives. In Christ we receive a new name, a core identity that will last throughout any circumstance.
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