In The Name Of Jesus Series

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

A SERIES ON JESUS: PART 1 (HIS NAME)

INTRO: If your parents had to prove that you were their son or daughter, how would they do it (give some time for answers here)? Seriously, what would they say (leaders, probably think about this answer yourself, probably using some story of in your childhood to prove it, maybe some type of birth mark).

TRANSITION: Well, the book of Mark characteristically uses different names for the savior, probably in an attempt to try to describe the Christ, let’s take a look at the names he says and how those names describe the risen Lord.

BIBLE VERSE: Mark 1:1-3

1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, 1:3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

THE FOUR NAMES:

1. JESUS

Picking a Name: My firstborn child is named Victoria, and for a good reason. My name is Tom, my wife’s name is Lori, so her name was Tori, because she is part of my wife and I (the idea of naming her Loom just didn’t work out so well). Youth, does anyone else know why you are named what you are named?

Specifics:

Formal Name: First, Mark uses his formal name, Jesus.

Not Unique: The name is NOT original, others have the same name. In Hebrew it is Joshua, in Greek it is Jesus. Even though the ethnic Mexican race was not around back then, Jesus (Hay-Zeus) is also common.

Literal Meaning: The literal meaning of the name of Jesus is “Yahweh is Salvation.”

BIBLE VERSE: 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

New Announcement: This week, Lori and I have learned the gender of Papez Child #6. It is going to be…drumroll…a boy! And we are going to name him Nathan! Besides us really liking the name, in Hebrew it means “God has given.” And boy has He ever given.

Name Stories: “Six Year Old with Weird Name Refused Birth Certificate”

“MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow authorities have refused to issue a birth certificate to a six-year-old boy, whose parents named him BOCh RVF 26062002, a records chief told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

Registration officials refused to register the boy’s name, which translates into a Russian acronym for Biological Human Object of the Voronin-Frolov Genus (DoB) June 6, 2002, to "protect the boy’s own interests." The parents have insisted on registering the name.

"This case has been reviewed by several judicial agencies; however, the parents have been denied the right to register the child with that name," Tatyana Ushakova said. "This was done to protect the interests of the boy. His parents need to think about the boy and how he can live with a name like that and not think about their own ambitions."

Ushakova said that there is no legislation in Russia against giving children odd names. She also said that the parents referred their case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg; however, the complaint was turned down.

In 2008, a number of other odd names were registered in Russia, including the English equivalent of North, Dolphin, Wind, and Moon. However, in 2005 the names Leaf Salad, Aviation Dispatcher, Russia, Privatization, Cool, Viagra and Simply a Hero were registered.

However, the Russian names are somewhat tame compared to New Zealand, where last year a family court judge made a nine-year-old girl a ward of the court in order to change her name from Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.

The judge Rob Murfitt said at the time, "The court is profoundly concerned about the very poor judgment which this child’s parents have shown in choosing this name. It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap, unnecessarily."

Murfitt gave a list of names that registrars had refused to register, including Sex Fruit, Keenan Got Lucy and Fish and Chips. However the names Number 16 Bus Shelter and Violence somehow got through.”

2. CHRIST

Specifics:

What It Means: The Greek word Christ, or the Hebrew word Messiah, which means “The Anointed One.”

Who Received Anointings? Three people received them: prophets, priests, & kings. Jesus is all three!

Anointings: What are they, and why are they important?

By Definition: “to anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil, milk, water, melted, butter, or other substances. People and things are anointed to symbolize the introduction of a sacramental or divine influence, the reception of the holy power of God.