Advent and names

The naming of children has become especially important to me the past few months because of the birth of two new grandchildren. When we heard the names our children had chosen we were anxious to find their meanings. The names became an affirmation of the faith of the parents and their desire for their children to grow into mature disciples of Jesus.

The Advent season speaks to us about the birth of Jesus and here too we think of the numerous names given to Jesus, the Christ, in the Scriptures. The Bible tells us that Jesus was named before His birth. The names listed in Isaiah – Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – predict the sphere of Christ’s influence in the world.

He is a counsellor, someone who deals with individuals in times of stress. He is the Everlasting Father, someone who relates to His children in a concerned, familial way, and He is Prince of Peace, the one who will one day reign over a peaceable kingdom.

And over all this, is the Mighty God who sees and hears us, who is concerned about the sparrow that falls, and who numbers the hairs on our head. This is all wrapped up in the word, “Immanuel,” God with us, which Isaiah introduces: “A virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (7:14). Matthew continues the theme when he says, quoting Isaiah: “ ‘They will call him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us’ ” (1:23). He finishes his Gospel with the same theme, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (28:20), or “Immanuel.”

Further in the Scriptures we see other names given to Jesus: Bright Morning Star, Cornerstone, Day Star, Deliverer, Author and Finisher of our Faith. These, and many others describe the person of Jesus, but also His ministry on earth. They describe someone trustworthy and give us hope for the year ahead.

Not everyone celebrates Advent and Christmas the way we do. Laurel Borisenko writes about her experience of Christmas in Burkina Faso, while the poem by Annetta Miller describes a mother who wishes for nothing as much as for peace in Sudan. The layout and graphics in this issue also reflect more of a non-traditional expression of Advent. Dora Dueck continues the birthing theme with a story about the birth of new churches in Saskatoon.

Also in this issue is an article by Myron Penner about Hannah who waited for her dream of a son to be fulfilled, and Tim Geddert continues with the study in Luke.