Drew Gets a New Name

The Holy Trinity

June 15, 2014

Matthew 28:19

Drew Gets a New Name

In the name of Jesus.

I.

How do you know when your kid is growing up? When he starts writing his name on his drawings and on his toys and on himself. That's Drew's car. That's Drew's painting. That's Drew. How do you know? His name is on it.

Drew Calvin Dollins. That's a good name. But today Drew is going to get a new name. Drew will be baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Being baptized into that holy name means that he will then belong to Christ. So he will be called a Christian. That's his new name.

II.

God loves to rename things. In Genesis He renamed Abram.

Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: “As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:3-5 HCSB)

He renamed Abram into Abraham. Instead of being simply called by a name that meant exalted father, Abram would become God's chosen father of many peoples. And of these many, the One sent by His Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, would come, born of a Virgin, to die for all people.

God renamed Jacob. Just before Jacob was reunited with his twin brother Esau, Jacob met a mysterious man, a man who was God. And they wrestled.

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that He could not defeat him, He struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. Then He said to Jacob, “Let Me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.”

“What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied. “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” He said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-28 HCSB)

III.

Today Christ will rename Drew. And he will be Christian. Jesus will put His name on Drew and Drew will belong to Him. Every day Drew will belong to Jesus, not just on Sunday, but every day. And so Brian and Tina, take Jesus' words to heart and teach Drew Christian to follow the One whose name he carries. Begin each day with him using his new name: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

You have been speaking English to Drew from the moment of his birth. And now you will go on speaking Jesus to Drew from this moment on until death parts you. Speak to Drew about the great things that his Triune God has done for him. Speak of the Father who sent His Son into the world to die. Speak of the Son who willingly suffered and died for the sin of the world. Speak of the Spirit who proclaims Jesus' full cross and empty tomb that washes away Drew's sin through Baptism, Word, and one day, the Lord's Supper.

This is Drew. Great name. And Christ will write His new divine name onto Drew now.

In the name of the Father

and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.