In the letter to Sardis, Jesus charges that the church has a “name” of being alive but is dead. At first blush, “name” means merely reputation, but I suspect that Jesus has more in mind.

The church is the people of Jesus, who is the “firstborn from the dead” (1:5), the First and Last who was dead and is not living (1:18; 2:8). The church should resemble the Lord of the church, and resembling the Lord of the church means that they are alive, even if they appear dead. Jesus had a “name” of being dead – He is a crucified Man. Yet He lives. The reality is life, even if the appearance and reputation is death. But the church has turned itself inside out, and no longer resembles Jesus.

This is connected to the earlier reference to the church’s “name.” The churches bear the name of Jesus; they have been marked with the name of Jesus in baptism, and they are “Christian” assemblies. Marked with the name of Jesus, they are to have life and not just a reputation for life. In fact, they do have a “name” that they live, specifically, the name of Jesus. Anyone and any community that bears the name “Jesus” bears the name of the Living One. Yet they are dead. They bear the name, but are bearing it lightly.