Unknown children of God in the Bible

The Bible takes names seriously. If you look through the Old Testament, you will find pages full of names. The names of people who came out of Egypt. Names of people who helped build the temple and the walls of Jerusalem. The Gospels also begin with names, the genealogy of Jesus. So yes, the Bible values names.

And we know the big ones, right? Paul, Peter, Moses, Abraham. We often think, "I want to be like them." I’ve felt the same. I wanted to stand up like Paul and preach boldly. I wanted to follow God like Abraham, even when he had no idea where he was going.

But when I actually started doing ministry, I realized something. Most of us will never be famous. No one may write about us. Our names might never be remembered. And to be honest, that felt discouraging. Then one day I heard a sermon about the story of the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. And it hit me. His name is not mentioned. He gave something that led to a great miracle, but we don’t know who he is.

That made me look deeper. And I found there are many people in the Bible like that, people who are never named but made a big difference. That encouraged me. Because maybe being remembered by people is not the point. Maybe being used by God is the point.

So today, I want to share about seven such people. Unnamed people. But their faith and actions speak loudly. I’m grouping them into three types:

1. People whose faith found grace.
2. People whose faith gave what they had.
3. People whose faith pointed others to God.

Let’s start with the first.

# The Unknowns Who Found Grace

Some people came to Jesus at their lowest point. They didn’t come with status or big qualifications. They came with pain. But their faith helped them find grace.

Let me tell you about three of them:

• A Roman centurion who cared for his servant.
• A Canaanite woman pleading for her daughter.
• A criminal dying on a cross.

# 1. The Roman Centurion

We read about this in Matthew 8. A Roman army officer, someone seen as a symbol of power and even oppression, comes to Jesus. He wasn’t part of the Jewish community. But when his servant fell sick, he came looking for help from Jesus.

He could have sent someone else. He could have ignored the servant. But he didn’t. He came himself and asked Jesus to heal the servant. Not his son. Not himself. His servant.

And then he said something amazing. He told Jesus, "You don’t need to come to my house. Just say the word." He understood authority. And he believed Jesus had that authority.

Jesus was amazed by his faith. He said, "I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." And the servant was healed that very hour. This man found grace, not because of his position, but because of his faith.

# 2. The Canaanite Woman

Then there’s the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15. She wasn’t Jewish either. She comes to Jesus, crying out for her daughter who is suffering terribly.

At first, Jesus says nothing. Then He says, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Still, she doesn’t stop. She keeps pleading. Finally, He says something very hard: "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs."

Most of us would have walked away. But she didn’t. She replied, "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table." That answer moved Jesus. He said, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed.

She didn’t argue. She didn’t demand. She just held on and found grace.

# 3. The Criminal on the Cross

And then, on the cross next to Jesus, was a man who had wasted his whole life. A criminal. He didn’t have time to change his life. He didn’t get baptized. He didn’t go to church. He didn’t even say much.

He just said, "Remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

And Jesus replied, "Today you will be with Me in paradise."

That’s grace. Right at the end. And it reminds us, we don’t know what happens in someone’s last moments. We don’t need to play judge. God sees. God knows. And God saves.

# God's Grace Is Not Based on Popularity

So whether it was a Roman officer, a desperate mother, or a dying thief, their faith found grace. None of them were famous. We don’t know their names. But heaven noticed.

Now let’s look at the second group.

# The Unknowns Who Gave What They Had

The Bible teaches us to give. Not out of guilt, but out of trust. Giving reminds us that God is the source of everything.

Let’s look at three people who gave what little they had:

• A boy with five loaves and two fish.
• A widow from Zarephath.
• A widow with two small coins.

# 1. The Boy with Five Loaves and Two Fish

In John 6, a huge crowd is following Jesus. It’s late. They are hungry. The disciples tell Jesus to send them away. But Jesus says, "You feed them."

The disciples panic. They don’t have food or money. But then they find one small boy with five loaves and two fish. That’s it. One lunch. And this boy could have easily said no. Why should he share? What if he goes hungry? But he gives it.

The disciples bring it to Jesus. Jesus blesses it. And it feeds thousands.

That’s how miracles happen. Someone gives, and God multiplies. In fact, most miracles in the Bible have a human role. Someone steps up, offers what they have, and then God does what only He can do. Not only was the boy fed, but everyone around him was fed too.

# 2. The Widow of Zarephath

In 1 Kings 17, there’s a famine. God tells Elijah to go to Zarephath. He says, "I have directed a widow to supply you with food."

When Elijah finds her, she says, "I have just a handful of flour and a little oil. I’m making a last meal for my son and me, and then we’ll die."

And Elijah says, "Make a small loaf for me first."

That’s a tough ask. But she obeys. And her jar of flour and jug of oil never run out. Day after day, they have food.

Even in her lowest moment, she gave. And God took care of her.

# 3. The Widow with Two Coins

In Mark 12, Jesus watches people putting offerings in the temple. Rich people throw in large amounts. Then comes a widow. She puts in two small coins.

Jesus says, "She gave more than all the others. They gave out of their wealth. She gave out of her poverty."

She gave everything she had. Not out of show. Not for attention. But from her heart. And Jesus noticed.

# Nothing Is Too Small for a Big God

God doesn’t measure by amount. He looks at the heart. These unnamed people gave what they had, and it became part of God’s story.

Let’s now look at the third kind of people.

# The Unknowns Who Pointed Others to God

We are not just called to believe quietly. We are called to point others to God. In the Old Testament, and even more clearly in the New Testament, we are told to share what we know.

Let me tell you about three people who did exactly that:

• A servant girl in Naaman’s house.
• The Samaritan woman at the well.
• Four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus.

# 1. The Servant Girl in Naaman’s House

In 2 Kings 5, Naaman is a commander of the Syrian army. He’s powerful. But he has leprosy. And in his house is a young servant girl from Israel. A prisoner of war. Probably taken in a raid.

She sees her master suffering. She could have kept quiet. She could have thought, "He deserves it." But she doesn’t.

She tells her mistress, "If only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be healed."

She points him to hope. To healing. To God.

That’s love. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, "Pray for your enemies." And that’s what Paul did when he stayed in prison and preached to his jailer. This jailer was the one who had shackled Paul and Silas. But Paul didn’t just preach. He went to the man’s house, and that night the entire household came to faith and was baptized.

# 2. The Samaritan Woman at the Well

In John 4, Jesus meets a woman at a well. She’s alone. Probably an outcast. Jesus speaks to her. He asks for water. Then He talks about living water.

At first, she doesn’t get it. She talks about the well and Jacob. Then Jesus reveals her past. She has had five husbands.

Now she realizes: This man is not ordinary. She runs into town and tells everyone, "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did."

She becomes an evangelist. A town that ignored her now listens to her. And many believe in Jesus.

She didn’t preach a sermon. She just shared her story. And because she did, the entire town came to see Jesus. What a change, from being an outcast to becoming the one who introduced a whole town to Christ.

# 3. The Four Friends Who Brought the Paralytic

In Mark 2, Jesus is teaching in a packed house. It’s full. No one can get in. Four friends arrive, carrying a paralyzed man. They could have gone home. Tried later. But they don’t.

They climb the roof. Tear it open. Lower their friend down.

Jesus sees their faith and heals the man.

Sometimes, people are too broken to come to Jesus themselves. It’s our job to carry them, in prayer, in love, in action. Just like these four friends.

God may have blessed you with strength, a job, peace, or clarity. Use that to carry someone else. Be the one who lifts the mat.

# Unknown People Making the Biggest Impact

These unnamed people pointed others to God. Some through words. Some through action. Some through persistence. And all of them made a difference.

# Unknown on Earth, Known in Heaven

None of these people were named. But their faith made it into the Bible. Their actions made it into God’s story.

You may not be famous. You may not preach to crowds. But if you live with faith, if you give what you have, if you carry someone else to Jesus, God sees it.

As Hebrews 6:10 says, "God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him."

So be encouraged. Keep doing what is right, even if no one notices. Heaven notices. God remembers.

You may be unnamed here. But you are known in heaven.

Amen.