It is not surprising that in the Gospel stories there are many individuals who are not named, although they may be important characters in the events described. Some people find it easy to pick up and remember the names of even casual acquaintances, but others fail to discover the names of those with whom they have brief or irregular contact. Even if they do, it is unlikely that they will remember their names years in the future.

Because many of the Old Testament books were written down generations after the events they describe and the Gospels some considerable time after Jesus had lived, it was not always easy for the writers to know the identity of all those involved in the events they were writing about. So we have stories of people who have no names but whose memorial lies in the Scriptures.

This series reflects on some of these people. It is a reminder that we do not have to be well-known, or even to have done some great act, to be valued by the Lord. When a lady, not named by Matthew and Mark, came into the house of Simon the leper in Bethany and anointed the head of Jesus with perfume, the Lord commended her.

If we recognise Jesus for who He is and do what we can for Him, then He will remember us although others may forget our name.