My children’s message for the Second Sunday in Lent (March 1, 2026)
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Bring a list of what names mean (see end of sermon – from https://www.popsugar.com/family/meaningful-baby-names-39798140 ).
So I’m glad you’re here today and I wanted to talk about something we all have – and that’s a first name. You have a name. I have a name. Some of us have similar names – the same name – and some of us don’t know anyone who has our name. So I’m curious – do you know why you have the name you have?
Accept answers.
Now, for a lot of us, our parents are the ones who name us. Others might go by a middle name or a nickname and some even choose their name after not really liking the one they grew up with. My parents named me Marc – with a c rather than a k at the end – because my mom liked it and it was the name of one of her brothers. Names come in all shapes and sizes and letters. And we sometimes will change the letters in a name – but pronounce them the same way – as a way of making it unique. If you don’t know where your name comes from, I invite you to ask your parents and guardians. And when you do, you might learn that they not only liked your name – but that they picked your name because it has a meaning. Names, like words, mean something. Now not everyone agrees that every name means the same thing but you can find lots of lists online telling you what certain names mean. For example, Abigail comes from the Hebrew language – the language the early books of the Bible were written in – and it means “The father’s joy.” Charlotte comes from the French language and means “petite – or little.” Naila is Arabic and means “successful.” Anthony is Latin and means “successful.” And “Ian” is Scottish and means “God is gracious.” My name, Marc, is the french version of the Latin word – Mars – who was part of a group that the ancient Roman Empire thought controlled the universe. Do you know what your name means? Accept answer. And did you know that most of the names in our Bible mean something – and that meaning is important to understanding who these people are.
In our reading today about Jesus, we’re going to meet someone named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was Jewish, like Jesus, and were told he was a very learned, religious, and faithful person. Nicodemus was the kind of person we might reach out to if we need help or if we had questions about where God is in our life. And his name meant “victory of the people.” But one thing I found interesting was that his name wasn’t connected to his Hebrew or Jewish background. It’s Greek. That doesn’t mean folks of one background aren’t allowed to use names from other backgrounds. But I find it striking that a person who was faithful, religious, a devout follower of God and who probably knew ancient Greek and might have even known Hebrew – had a name that was a bit different. And yet this person whose name – or story – didn’t match all of the Biblical story – was still part of God’s family and what God was up to in the world. So that makes me wonder if part of what is going on when Nicodemus visits Jesus is if Jesus is reminding Nicodemus of who God is. God isn’t only for one kind of people; or one kind of community; or for only people who look like who we think God’s people will look like. God really is a God of everyone and of the entire world. And if God is a God who welcomes and includes everyone – that means Jesus is for everyone too. Jesus just isn’t here for only one kind of person or only for the people who do everything right. He’s for me. He’s for you. He’s for everyone. Jesus helps all of us grow in kindness, mercy, compassion, and to discover how we always have a place with our God no matter what our name is or where our name comes from. Jesus is for you, is with you, and will never let you go.