What's in a name?
We were delighted when we discovered that my wife was pregnant with our first child! Almost overnight things changed as we started to prepare for the baby’s arrival.
We shopped for a pram, clothes and toys! Some items were new, but we were also blessed with second hand essentials, such as a Moses basket and cot. I turned our study into the nursery, painting the walls in an ‘under the sea’ theme.
One of the most important jobs was thinking about the name for this child. We decided early on that we did not want to know the gender until it was born, so we discussed many boys’ and girls’ names.
We investigated the meaning of the names as well, and after a few months into the pregnancy we agreed on a name for a boy and girl we both liked.
As a church pastor, I have had the joy to be part of new baby naming ceremonies, where on some occasions there are many names, all with significant meanings!
In the Bible, when Jesus started his ministry he gathered a team, called disciples. It was common in those days, for a Rabbi to have a group follow and learn from him.
When Jesus called two brothers, Andrew and Simon, to ‘follow him’, he did something rather unusual…
“Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).”
As soon as Jesus saw Simon, he spoke about his future, and this was wrapped up in a name change to Peter – which means rock.
At that time Simon was not a ‘rock’, but an impulsive young man who often spoke before he thought.
But Jesus saw what Simon was going to become. As a follower of Jesus, Simon became Peter, a powerful preacher, miracle worker, and an important figure in the first church.
I believe that today, when we come to Jesus, he does not see or judge us for who we are now, but what we can become in him!
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader