TITLES

READ: Luke 2:21-52

ANSWER THIS: If someone were to give you a nickname, what would you want it to be?

THE BREAKDOWN

In Matthew 1:21, when an angel of God tells Joseph that his fiancé, Mary, who was still a virgin, was going to give birth to a son, the angel makes it clear the child should be named Jesus. In Hebrew, the name “Jesus” means “God Saves.”

Not long after his birth, Jesus’ parents take him to Jerusalem to dedicate him to the Lord, as was the Jewish custom for firstborn sons. While at the Temple (a place of worship, much like our churches, today), a man named Simeon recognizes Jesus as the Messiah whom God had promised he would see before he died. “Messiah” means “Promised Deliverer.”

While Simeon is telling Mary and Joseph that Jesus was destined to be the salvation for all nations, an elderly woman named Anna overhears him. Hearing Simeon, and seeing Jesus, she begins to praise God and tells everyone that Jesus was the “rescuer” whom they had been waiting for.

When Jesus is twelve, his parents take him to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover (a festival celebrating the day God miraculously rescued the Jews from Egyptian bondage). Afterward, on their way back home with friends and family, they realize Jesus is no longer with them. Three days later, they finally find him at the Temple in Jerusalem. Concerned, they ask him why he stayed behind. And he replies that they should have known he’d be in his Father’s house (his first recorded reference to his relationship with God).

God Saves. Promised Deliverer. Rescuer. Jesus clearly had some impressive titles.

More impressive, though, was his ancestry: His father was God.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

In our Western culture, we love titles. Titles like Student Body President, Team Captain, or CEO are sought after. They’re given to us by people who respect us and have faith in our abilities.

Nicknames, like titles, can be attractive, too. But, they can also be destructive. Names like “Weirdo,” “Lamebrain”, or “Tool,” are given by people who disrespect us, and wish to diminish anything we accomplish. In reality, the people who give them are often compensating for their own low self-esteem.

In high school, I struggled in my Western Civilization History class. If I made a “C,” it was a real accomplishment. My teacher, Mr. Benton, nicknamed me “Battlin’ Brian,” because he could see how hard I was trying. That motivated me to work even harder, and I eventually squeaked out a “B” in his class.

I’ve never forgotten him, or the positive impact he had on my life, simply because he gave me a name that inspired me, rather than one that demoralized me.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?

Have you ever been given a nickname, or given one to someone else? Was it an encouraging one, or a belittling one? If we consider what name we would like to be called, maybe we’d pick more positive ones to give others.

PRAYER

“Lord, I know how I feel when people call me something not-so-encouraging. Help me keep that in mind when I’m tempted to give someone a nickname I wouldn’t want for myself. And, point out when I’m tempted to treat someone in a way I wouldn’t want to be treated. Remind me to lift people up, rather than tear them down.”