3rd Sunday of Advent
Exodus 20:7
December 15, 2024
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The text that I have chosen for this morning’s sermon from Exodus 20:7, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”
Emmanuel’s advent theme is centered on the names of Jesus from Isaiah: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. I’m not going to talk about those; I’ll leave that to the kids. We all know names are important. They identify family relationships – the Petersons. They reveal the faith of the parents – Christian or Mohammad. Names are chosen because of their meaning – “fair one” or “captivating”. Names will also conjure up emotions. George Washington makes Americans swell with pride. Adolf, a popular name until the mid-1940’s, symbolizes hatred and death. In the most basic sense, names are identifiers which allow us to communicate clearly.
While we often use “God” when talking about Him, there are plenty of other options to choose from: Yahweh, Father, Lord, Jesus, Counselor, Son, Alpha and Omega, Emmanuel, and many others. In all these cases, the use of God’s name is distinctive because God’s name is not an identifier. When God’s name is spoken, He is present in all His power and glory. To speak God’s name is to be in His holy presence. This is why we pray at the very beginning of the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be thy name.” God’s name is indeed holy, but in this petition, we pray that it would be holy among us.
God’s name is so important that the Second Commandment tells us us to keep it holy. It even comes before the commandment about murder. There are numerous warnings in the Old Testament against doing or saying anything would be considered blasphemy. Blasphemy is using God’s name sinfully – cursing, swearing, denigrating it. In the Old Testament times up through Jesus, blasphemy was punishable by death. This was the trumped up charge the Jews used to condemn Jesus when He claimed to be God. And St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned for his claim that Jesus is the Son of God who is sitting at the right hand of the Father.
Christians don’t stone people for blasphemy, we never have. Instead, we’ve gone the opposite way. We don’t raise an eyebrow when someone says “O my God.” His name is more than an exclamation like “Wow!” or “Oops!” It’s a sin to treat His name as insignificant. To profane, to misuse God’s name, is to move it from its rightful place of uniqueness and holiness and make it ordinary. When we say things like “God dam it!” or “Jesus Christ”, we’re profaning His holy name. Worse yet is when we use His name to curse others. Moses says, “For the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” We must confess the shameful ways we abuse His holy name.
In His name you’re baptized and given “the right to become children of God.” Why would we want to insult the name which is put on us when the Pastor says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?” Instead of misusing it, we should say it with trust and adoration. Like children cry out for their mom or dad when they’re scared or need something, we call upon the name of our Father in all our needs. You can trust that when you pray, “Abba, Father” it reaches the ears of Him who knows you by name. In calling upon His name, you have His divine blessing. To pray in Jesus name is to believe that God will hear your prayers and answer them in the best possible way. He has shared with you His holy name and He wants you to use it. Call upon His name in the day of trouble and He will rescue you!
Jesus was condemned and executed for claiming equality with God. He was accused of blasphemy even though He was the one person who couldn’t misuse God’s name because it was His too. In the events of Good Friday, we see our Lord repeatedly mocked for His claim to be the Savior. In the events of Good Friday, He was cursed so we would not be. His name was sullied so that ours would ring beautifully in the ears of the Father. His name was, and is, reviled by those who reject Him. While for those who believe, it’s the most beautiful thing we can say.
Jesus says of the faithful Christian: “I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels” (Rev 3:5). Your names are written in God’s book. They’re inscribed in those holy pages, so you don’t need to fear condemnation or damnation. Call upon His name and you will be saved! You’re marked with the name of the Triune God. You bear the name Christian! There’s no greater name in heaven or on earth. Saint Paul sums it up perfectly, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”
God’s name is more than an identifier. His name bestows blessings and forgiveness. When we speak His name, we enter His presence. Let’s not take it in vain, misuse it, curse others, or use it as an exclamation. His name is holy and by putting it on you He makes you holy. His name is precious and should continually fill our mouths with praise. I think the name Jesus might be the best of the options because it means “The Lord Saves”, which He has indeed done for you!
Amen
Now the peace which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen