Revelation 2:13-17: a reflection

13“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15So also you likewise have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it.

To the church at Pergamum, where faithfulness was costly, Christ makes a promise to the one who overcomes: I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it. The new name, known only to the one who receives it, speaks of an intimate, personal knowing between Christ and each of his own. God does not know his people as a faceless crowd, but each individually, with a name known only between him and them, a personal knowing so intimate that no one else shares it. Each of Christ's own is personally, intimately known by him, given a name that speaks of a knowing between them alone.

Notice the intimacy the new name signifies: a name known only to the one who receives it. This is not a public designation but a private, personal name, known only between Christ and the one who receives it, a mark of an intimate, individual knowing. God knows each of his own not merely as one of a multitude but personally, intimately, with a knowing so particular that it is like a name shared between them alone. The new name speaks of how personally God knows each of his people, how each is individually and intimately known by him, not lost in the crowd but known by name, with a knowing unique to each. Christ knows his own each by name, with an intimacy no one else shares.

That is worth resting in, for God knows each of his own personally and intimately, not as a faceless crowd. We can feel that we are lost in the multitude, one among countless others, not particularly known; but the promise of the new name, known only between Christ and the one who receives it, speaks of how personally and intimately God knows each of his own. You are not lost in the crowd to God; he knows you individually, intimately, with a knowing unique to you. When you feel unknown, one of a faceless multitude, remember that God knows each of his own personally, with a name known only between him and them. Rest in the truth that God knows you personally and intimately, each of his own individually known, as Christ promises the overcomer a new name known only to the one who receives it; for God does not know his people as a faceless crowd but each one intimately, by a name shared between them alone, and you are personally and particularly known by him.

Lord Jesus, to the church at Pergamum, where faithfulness was costly, you make a promise to the one who overcomes: I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it. The new name, known only to the one who receives it, speaks of an intimate, personal knowing between you and each of your own. You do not know your people as a faceless crowd, but each individually, with a name known only between you and them. Show me the intimacy the new name signifies: a name known only to the one who receives it. This is not a public designation but a private, personal name, a mark of an intimate, individual knowing. You know each of your own not merely as one of a multitude but personally, intimately, with a knowing so particular that it is like a name shared between you alone. The new name speaks of how personally you know each of your people, how each is individually and intimately known by you, not lost in the crowd but known by name. Let me rest in that, for you know each of your own personally and intimately, not as a faceless crowd. I can feel that I am lost in the multitude, one among countless others, not particularly known; but the promise of the new name speaks of how personally and intimately you know each of your own. I am not lost in the crowd to you; you know me individually, intimately, with a knowing unique to me. When I feel unknown, one of a faceless multitude, help me remember that you know each of your own personally, Lord, with a name known only between you and them. Help me rest in the truth that you know me personally and intimately.