Isn’t it a wonderful experience when you are new to a group, and you find someone who consistently remembers your name? There can’t be any quicker way to feel welcomed than to have someone call your name from across the room. If you are someone gifted with the ability to remember names easily, thank your loving Father for that gift!

My husband and I used to struggle with names when we were in the Navy. In all fairness, the names around us changed every couple of months as people deployed and were assigned to other squadrons, while others came in and took their place. It was pretty easy to remember the pilots, since their names were conveniently displayed on their flight suits. But in social occasions where spouses were included and name tags weren’t worn, we had to develop a way of figuring out someone’s name without letting them know. Kenn would say to the person, “Have you ever met my wife, Betsy?” and I would immediately extend my hand for a handshake and say, “Hi, I’m Betsy!” They then had to respond with a greeting and their name. I could see Kenn leaning in as they gave their name. We had to reverse this when I served a large church many years later. Everyone knew my name, but I had a bit of a struggle keeping up with the close to 4,000 members’ names. There were many potluck suppers where I did the “Have you ever met my husband Kenn?” and then leaned in to hear them introduce themselves. Try this at your next awkward social gathering! It works like a charm.

We continue our examination of John 10 this morning with a special emphasis on verse 3. Jesus states that the sheep not only listen to the shepherd’s voice, but he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out:

John 10 (Common English Bible)

1 I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.

Embedded in this complex story of sheep, thieves, and fences is a beautiful nod to the reverence of baptism. In our United Methodist understanding of this sacrament, baptism is a time of “naming and claiming”. We need to be clear that God knows every child by name at their conception. Psalm 139 confirms this:

“You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13, Common English Bible).

But in baptism, we invite the entire community to participate in the naming of that person and acknowledge that Jesus has claimed them as one of his sheep. Notice that our liturgy asks only for the first and middle name of the person. I believe that is because we take on a new last name in that water-washed moment. We all share that same last name as family members in the Body of Christ. I am no longer Haas. You are no longer Smith or Jones. Our new last name is Beloved.

What does it mean to you to know that Jesus knows your name? You are his Beloved.

Revel in that.

He Knows Your Name by Michelle Robertson