On that day, Rebeka took something from me. See, until that day it was just me, a preaching student in Memphis with little to no responsibilities outside of memorizing my verses and getting my papers turned in on time. But, when we decided to unite in marriage and that day finally came, she took that away. Even more than my freedom, she took my name. I was no longer a single guy who's name was all mine, now it's hers too.
There was a lot of planning that went in to that day but all of the arrangements were nothing compared to another day. The day I'm talking about took thousands of years to plan, multiple miraculous events to intercede in the world's plans, a cross, a bunch of ungodly Jews and Romans bent on having their way and even more. The day that Jesus took His place on the middle cross of Calvary was both the worst and the best day ever.
His bride took everything from Him for that day. More than just freedom to go out to eat with the guys whenever He wanted, she took His life for that day to happen! And after He had passed from this earthly life, had His body buried in a borrowed tomb, waited three days and come back to show mankind that He is the Christ and Satan that he has no power over Him, she took His name.
The bride is the church of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-23), the name is Christian (Acts 11:26) and the blessing of that name is much more than a tax write off or a new chance for a driver's license picture. No, the blessings of being that bride for which the God of the Universe died are innumerable (Ephesians 3:8). They're spiritual (Ephesians 1:3). They're everything to the bride.
My wife brings me great joy in having my name and, in a sense, representing me to the world. When people see her and realize that she has taken it upon herself to be joined to me for the rest of this life there's nothing better. I just hope that as members of the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23), the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-23), we give Him even more honor, joy and glory because our names are nothing compared to His (Philippians 2:9).
Christians, remember you took the name of Christ the day you became part of the bride of Christ. Don't ever purposefully do anything to taint that name and if something is done foolishly, fix it immediately because it took a lot more than an over priced set of flowers and tea candles for you to be able to have that name!