Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself. (2.2.38-49)William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
So what’s in a name? Poor Romeo and Juliet, they had their issues, didn’t they? Romeo had the wrong name. He was born a Montague. He was born an enemy of the Capulets. Remember the feuding families? Kind of like the Hatfields and McCoys, West Virginia style, right?!?! Juliet blurts out, basically, what’s the big deal, it’s just a name, your name doesn’t make you who you are, you are who you are, regardless of what you’re called. A rose, is a rose, is a rose. But the name Montague meant something to the Capulet family. The name had meaning.
About 1500 years before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, the most meaningful name was mentioned, before His birth. A name from the House of David.
“You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Luke 1:31-33
“For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21
So, what’s in a name? Do you think Mary and Joseph were wondering that too? Why the name Jesus? Why not Joe, Jr.? Why not after Mary’s dad? Why not after Joseph’s great uncle Earl? Did they know what that name meant? Did they know what that name would represent? Maybe. Maybe not. The Bible tells us and shows us so plainly and comprehensibly what the name Jesus means.
Baby Jesus. Savior. Messiah. Almighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Immanuel. Redeemer. Word of God. Light that Shines in Darkness. The Alpha and Omega. Shepherd. Son of Man. First and Last. Creator. Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Lamb of God. Son of Man. Hope of the World. Bread of Life. Christ Jesus. God. Holy Spirit. Father. Abba. Triumphant. Strength. Amen!
So, what’s in your name? What does your name mean? Not your given name, your newborn name, you know, child of the risen King.
See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! 1 John 3:1
The Bible tells us and shows us so plainly and comprehensibly what our name means too. Humbled. Christian. Disciple. Heirs. Holy Nation. Lambs. Royal Priesthood. Loved. Forgiven. Redeemed. Righteous. Child of God. Faultless. Sinless. Chosen. Son. Daughter. Gift. Image of God.
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of the heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
Names really do mean something.
For that name which is ever part of me
Jesus, take all myself.