Sunday, January 12, 2025

Naming and Claiming

“Naming and Claiming” A Sermon based on Isaiah 43:1-7, Psalm 29 and Luke 3:15-17; 21-22 delivered on Sunday, January 12, 2025 by the Rev. Alison Andrea Young at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.

Names are powerful things. In our Isaiah passage this morning we are reminded of this. As the people of Israel are about to be released from captivity in Babylon, the author of Second Isaiah comforts them by quoting God as saying, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1c) Because God names and claims the people of Israel as his, the people will be saved. In the same way, when Jesus is baptized (Luke 3:21-22) the Holy Spirit descends upon him and God’s voice from heaven names and claims him in these powerful words, “You are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” Later in Luke, in Chapter Four, we hear of the power this has given Jesus, when the scriptures tell us: “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.” (Luke 4:14) Being named and claimed by God through the Holy Spirit gave Jesus the power and authority to do his work in this world.

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© Copyright 2025 by the Rev. Alison Andrea Young