"What is thy name?" is a Bible question that is concerned not so much with nomenclature as with unfoldment of character, enlightenment, and understanding. It could mean: Have we named the name of Christ? Do we measure up to the standard demonstrated in the life of Christ Jesus? Are we putting off carnal beliefs and putting on spiritual understanding? Do we express the nature of him who is called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"?Isa. 9:6; These are questions we face daily and individually. Our progress in the understanding and demonstration of Truth and Love furnishes us with the answer.
For significant reasons the names of Bible characters were sometimes changed. Jacob's name became Israel; Saul's became Paul; Jesus renamed Simon Bar-jona Peter, meaning "rock." When a mortal sense had yielded to a more spiritual consciousness of the divine, each one of these men received a new name in Christ.
Jesus himself bore the divine title of Christ, not so much as a name but as the only begotten Son of the Father. He presented the healing and saving power of God more than any other man. Nevertheless, throughout all ages the saving Christ has appeared to those who were ready to receive the divine message and to put on a new name that would identify their true nature. It is essential for everyone to recognize his true name in Christ and to behold his divine relationship to God as His beloved son.
