QJA What is Your Name?

Mark 5:1–20 NKJV

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Mark 5:1-20

to open

I’m terrible with names.

I have a rule..i say hello my name is Brian and you say…hello and walk away. No you repeat...

I’d like to make a reservation please. Maitre d’ asks your name? Hmmmm, Name, what name should i use? Loderhose? Spell it? How about Smith, or be funny and say Barak Obama?

What happens when Jesus asks your name?

Knowing someone’s name is the beginning of relationship.

Names are more than labels. We embody our name. We identify with our name.

Shakespeare's Juliet asked, “what’s in a name?” “that which we call a rose by any other word would still smell as sweet.”

She wouldn’t try to change the name if her name was rose!

There have been many variations of Loderhose over the years. When spelling it for someone i take extra care to pause at a particular place.

L…o…d…e…r…h…o......s…e. Invariably a u”u” appears.

They can’t stop themselves.

Nick and Abby were tight lipped about baby names. Nick didn’t want to pick a name until he had seen the baby. I love this about baby names.

Early on, it may not make sense. But in teen years, or when their personality begins to shine forth, it almost appears their name makes them, as if a name had anything to do with their personality.

I do believe telling a child often enough they are bad, rotten or mean makes them want to embody those characteristics.

Our daughter Erin. Her middle name is Nicole. She could go by Nicole, Nicky, or a variation. But Erin fits and Nicky doesn’t.

Heavy Weight Champion George Foreman named all his boys George.

Not all nicknames fit. Sally’s from Dallas and her maiden name is Spencer. I’ve tried a variation of nicknames from both of them and neither really work for her.

We’ve all heard the rhyme, sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. But we know they do.

Names as labels hurt. Have a big nose, glasses, crooked smile, cleft pallet, or you’re small for your age, they all get nick names.

What does your name mean? Is it true or did someone make it up to give you a boost?

Oh your name is Sarah, that means sunshine in the Bible. No it doesn’t it means Princess. Sarai, means quarrelsome. That’s why God changed Sarai to Sarah, he was tired of arguing with her...

How about when your name is forgotten! Hey Jim, this is my close friend....silence.

Makes you feel small and insignificant.

The scripture tells us God calls each of us by name. I am reminded of this every Easter when we read the story of the tomb. “Mary.”

The fact that God calls each of us by name tells me He is a personal God. He wants to build a relationship. He recognizes us.

At the wedding, one of Matt’s friends came up and introduced himself. Hi, i’m Tim. You are ? I’m Brian Loderhose. Oh, shew, you looked really famous. Are you sure you aren’t?

Infamous, yes. Famous. No.

Jesus calls us by our name. The name we are comfortable with, the name we know, the name He knows. Not our nickname, not our label, but our identifier. Our name.

Luke 16:19-31

Who is in this story? What are the characters names?

Aren’t rich men know quite well? Aren’t the poor the ones forgotten?

Rich peoples names are like magic. They open doors, and create relationships between people when they aren’t even present. Name dropping is a thing.

In our story, I bet the rich man doesn’t know Lazarus name.

Isn’t it like Jesus to flip the script.

Lazarus means God helps.

Back to our opening story:

Who is this man? Behavioral disorders, multiple personalities, serious mental illness?

He is suffering. He lives in a graveyard. He is ostracized by everyone. He hurts himself, cuts himself, breaks chains and shackles. He is a beast.

But when he sees Jesus…he runs to Him, bows down, before Him.

Jesus asks him what? What is your name? Asking someone their name is the beginning of what?

This is not a small matter. Do you think Jesus doesn;t know what is happening? Who this is? Where he comes from? On the contrary. Jesus is going to make him new, re introduce him to society and is going to address him properly.

When do you think anyone cared enough about this man to ask his name?

No one cared about his name. But he heard what they said. Madman, demon, lunatic, dangerous, a beast.

What is your name?

A legion in those days was best know to be a group of Roman soldiers numbering 6,000. They often brutalized those who lived in occupied lands. He could be testifying to how many there are inside of him.

To the swine!

What question does the man ask Jesus?

Can i follow? New clothes, new mind, new faith.

Jesus says no, but go and tell all you can about me and about how your life has been restored.

And then..He approached and i ran and bowed before Him and you know what he asked me…He asked me, what is your name?

John 10:3 NKJV

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Philippians 2:9–11 NKJV

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3 John 15 NKJV

but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Jesus Name above all names Beautiful Savior Glorious Lord Immanuel God is with us Blessed Redemmer Living Word Jesus Name above all names Beautiful Savior glorious Lord Immanuel God is with us Blessed Redemmer Healing Lord