The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 1:40-45, “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah ” (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas ” (which is translated Peter).

43 The next day He purposed to go forth into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

What’s in a name? These verses above have significant meaning because

they indicate who and how they came to faith in Jesus. Andrew found Simon;

Philip found Nathanael. They were witnessing to family and friends that they

had found the Messiah. That in itself is greatly important. It’s what we ought

to do as well.

At the same time, the names had significance. Remember when John the

Baptist was born. His mother, Elizabeth, said his name was to be John.

Her friends said, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by

that name” (Lk. 1:61). But his father, Zacharias, said, “His name is John.”

And that was the end of it. John means “God’s grace.” He was to be the

forerunner of Jesus – the one who was to announce Him to the world.

The name that got me started down this “what’s-in-a-name-path” was the

name Nathaniel. It was every Jewish girl’s hope and prayer that she would

be the mother of the promised Messiah. Nathaniel’s mother hoped for that

and in anticipation that her son would be the Messiah, named him Nathaniel,

“gift of God.” But that was not to be. The angel had already notified Mary that

she was to be the Messiah’s mother.

Here are the meanings of the names in the verses above:

Simon – He who hears (Heb.)

Andrew – Valiant, courageous; manly (Gk.)

Peter – Rock, stone (Lat.)

Nathaniel – Gift of God (Heb.)

John – God’s Grace (Heb.)

James – Supplanter, substitute (Heb.)

Mary – Bitter (Heb.)

Joseph – He shall add (Heb.)

These links will help you to discover the meaning of your own name:

http://www.bible-history.com/

https://www.familyeducation.com/baby-names

What’s more important is that you live up to your name. Jesus is your

Key to doing just that.

Love and prayers always and ever,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”