What's In A Name?

In a few weeks, a new version of the hit Broadway musical “West Side Story” will be released. The play is based on the Shakespearean play, “Romeo and Juliet.”

In the play, Juliet meets Romeo as she looks down from her balcony. In the now iconic scene Romeo, who has the last name Montague, is unable to be with the beautiful Juliet because her last name is Capulet. The two families would never allow intermarriage because they hate each other so much.

In the balcony scene Juliet tells Romeo that it is only his name that is her enemy. If his last name were different, she could be with him. Or, maybe she could refuse the name Capulet.

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

Juliet muses further

What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;

Juliet’s question is one I often ponder as does the rest of the world. Capulet and Montague, Hatfield and McCoy, Your last name and their last name; this has been the way the world operates for eons. The good ones (AKA us) vs. the bad ones (AKA them) all separated by a race, religion, creed, or yes, a last name.

Incredibly, into this cycle of anger, revenge, hatred, hostility, comes hope.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And the fulfilment of that prophecy is where believers find lasting hope

Hope Has A Prelude

Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Creation Began The Journey of Hope

time begins with creation

humanity begins with creation

hope begins with creation

Creation Brings The Reward of Hope

people who exercise faith are rewarded for their faith

faith is not a one and done idea

faith spawns action as we shall see

Creation Begs The Cognition of Hope

understanding comes from faith

this is why Christians simply believe God created

It is not that we lack questions

it is that we believe God did what he said (incidentally mark your calendars for Sunday February 6th as we will talk about creation)

Creation by God and our faith go hand in hand

Hope Has A Promise

Hebrews 11:4–7 ESV

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

The Promise Is Residual

Cain’s righteous gift still speaks to people about God’s faithful use of the faithful

The Promise Is Reasonable

only by believing the promise can someone hope to understand how God rewards those who seek him

The Promise Is Rescuing

Like Noah, God’s people can expect that God will save His people

Hope Has A People

Hebrews 11:8–12 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Hope’s People Follow

Like Abraham, the people who hope in God follow him by faith

Hope’s People Find

The people find the promised land, not in soil or boundaries on earth but in the kingdom “whose designer and builder is God.”

Hope’s People Flourish

Abraham’s seed are all who believe the gospel

Hope Has A Place

Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hope’s Place Is Foreign But Home

Hope’s Place Is Future But Now

Hope Has A Person

Hebrews 11:39–12:2 ESV

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

There is a name I love to hear I love to sing its worth It sounds like music in my ear The sweetest name on earth O how I love Jesus O how I love Jesus O how I love Jesus Because He first loved me

Hope’s Person Is The Promise

Hope’s Person Is The Provision

Hope’s Person Is The Preserver

Hope Has A Name

The name is not just a 5 letter Americanized word ‘Jesus’

Savior

Redeemer

Bread of Life

Lord

Creator

Son of the Living God

Only Begotten Son

Beloved Son

Holy One of Israel

Wonderful

Counsellor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

King of Kings

Head of the Church

The Almighty

Alpha and Omega

Master

King of the Jews

High Priest

Prophet

Teacher

Immanuel

Advocate

Mediator

Judge

Chief Cornerstone

Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Lamb of God

Good Shepherd

The Shepherd and Bishop of Souls

The Word

Fountain of Living Waters

Rock

True Vine

Bridegroom

Dayspring

Shiloh

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

The Bright and Morning Star

The Image of the Invisible God

I Am

Son of Man

Carpenter

The Way, the Truth and the Life

King of Israel

Messiah

Christ