Dr. Rick Mandl - September 18, 2020
If Jesus Gave You A Nickname
Devotional Manuscript: If Jesus Gave You A Nickname
By Dr. Rick Mandl, Friday, September 18, 2020
Hey church family, in Mark chapter 3 we have the record of our Lord’s calling of the 12 disciples. It’s there that we read these words... "These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."
Among these twelve that he was calling to follow Him, three of them in particular, would have a closer relationship with him than the others. Those three were Peter, James and John. Those were the three that Jesus would take with him to the Mount of Transfiguration where they would witness the appearance of Moses and Elijah. Those were also the three that Jesus would take with him to keep watch and pray at the Garden of Gethsemane, on the evening before he went to the cross.
Mark tells us that Jesus gave nicknames to these three. To Simon, “he gave the name Peter” which means rock. In Matthew 16:18 we’ll learn the special significance of that name because Jesus says that Simon was the “rock” upon which Jesus would build his church. James and John received the nickname Boanerges. Which translates “sons of thunder.” Although we don’t know exactly why Jesus gave the two brothers this nickname, we can imagine that it had something to do with their explosive personalities.
In Luke chapter 9 we’re told of a time when Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jerusalem. And Jesus sent messengers on ahead, looking for lodging. And those that he had sent came back and reported that the town where they had inquired was unwilling to extend any hospitality and provide a place for them to stay. These were the two who upon hearing that said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” James and John were bold, they were brash, they said whatever came into their minds, without any filters. And yet these two, along with Simon Peter, were three of his closest friends.
As I was thinking about Peter the Rock, and James and John the ‘sons of thunder’ it started me thinking, I wonder what Jesus might choose as a nickname for me. Whatever name he would choose would in all likelihood, be based on two things. First, the fact that Jesus knows me through and through. He knows everything about me, my strengths and weaknesses, my hopes and fears. Nothing about me is hidden from him. That might be a scary thought, were it not for Jesus’ matchless love and abundant grace.
Second, I’m reminded that Jesus wants to be a friend with his followers, and that includes you and me (John 15:13-15). Now, make no mistake, Jesus is much more than just a friend. He is Lord and Savior, He is the unique Son of God, fully human and fully God. And, Jesus seeks friendship with us. Maybe Jesus is the kind of friend who would invent nicknames for us. But, whether or not this is true, we who follow Jesus have the incredible privilege of knowing him as a friend. In John 15:15 Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
The next time you’re trying to come up with a list of things for which you can be thankful, include this one on your list. That Jesus has chosen to call us his friends.
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