Luke 2:21; Galatians
3:23-29; Numbers 6:22-27
In the Name of the Father and of the
+ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Genesis chapter
two begins with a quaint little scene in which Adam gives names to all the
creatures of the earth. Now, one could easily read past this account without a
thought as to what meaning it might hold. However, the Feast we celebrate this
day is all about the giving of a Name. In the Holy Scriptures, names are given
to things that are new, or to people who have experienced some sort of profound
change such that they are, effectively, new people. Examples of this include
Jacob, Peter, and Paul, each of whom underwent a spiritual transformation in
which their lives were changed in such a way that they effectively became new
people.
When the LORD
made a covenant with Abram, He gave him a new name, and the LORD gave Abram and
his descendants the sign of circumcision. Abram became Abraham, the father of
nations, and the sign of the LORD’s covenant, circumcision, was given in
Abraham’s flesh. Since the covenant promise was for a son from Abraham’s own
flesh and for descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens, from which
ultimately would come a Savior, the Messiah, the sign of the LORD’s covenant
promise was upon the male reproductive organ so that at the conception and
birth of every male and female descendant of Abraham the LORD’s covenant
promise would be remembered. Every man and boy of Abraham’s tribe was
circumcised, and every male child born thereafter was circumcised on the eighth
day after birth, in remembrance of the LORD’s covenant promise made to Abraham
and his descendants.
In the New
Testament, St. Luke records for us the account of the circumcision and naming
of John the Baptist. As you will recall, because John’s father Zechariah did
not believe the Word of the LORD spoken by His messenger Gabriel that his wife
Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son, he was stricken mute as a sign until
the child was born, circumcised, and was named John just as the angel had said.
And so, on the eighth day after his birth, the child was circumcised and was
given the name John. Immediately, Zechariah’s tongue was loosed and his mouth was
opened in praise of the LORD who had kept His Word and promise. Accordingly,
eight days after His birth, Jesus was circumcised and was given the Name Jesus
just as Gabriel had proclaimed to Mary when she conceived the Christ child by
the Word and Spirit of the LORD proclaimed by His holy messenger.
Every male child
that was circumcised was given a name indicating that something new was
present. In the case of men conceived and born in sin, circumcision and the new
name were a sign of the LORD’s promised forgiveness in the forthcoming Messiah
whom He would send when time was full. However, in the case of Jesus, who had
no sin to be forgiven, He was circumcised for your sins and for my sins and for
the sins of all humankind, and He was given a particular, holy, and divine
Name, Jesus, which means “God saves.” Jesus was circumcised and named for all
of us that He might take all of our sin, uncleanness, and guilt upon Himself
and die in our place thereby destroying the power of sin and death. And,
because He was sinless and righteous, and yet died in our place, God raised Him
from death, and in Him raised all humankind from death to life that will never
end for those who are born again through faith and trust in Jesus.
Following Jesus’
death and resurrection, His ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit on
Pentecost, there was no longer any need for the sign of circumcision, which was
a sign of a promise yet to be fulfilled, for the covenant promise was fulfilled
in Jesus. Now, Holy Baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign and seal of
God’s covenant promise fulfilled for us in Jesus Christ. Holy Baptism is a far
superior sign and Sacrament that actually incorporates the faithful into Jesus
so that His death is our death, and His resurrection and ascension is our
resurrection and ascension. In truth, Jesus’ eternal life and victory over sin,
death, and Satan are ours too through baptism and faith in Him, even as His
Sonship with the Father and Kingship over heaven and earth is ours too through
baptism and faith in Him. All things are yours through baptism and faith in
Christ Jesus your Lord. Your new life and name in Jesus Christ is so important
that the Christian Church has symbolically incorporated the number eight into
the architecture and furnishing of its sanctuaries. In our humble sanctuary the
baptismal font is eight sided as is the pattern in the tile upon which it
stands. You may have to use your imagination a bit, but even this
contemporary-design pulpit is octagonal, if you were to complete the pattern
all the way around. This is no coincidence, for the number eight symbolizes the
eternal eighth day of Jesus’ resurrection and new life that never ends into
which each of you have been baptized and become a new creation bearing God’s
own holy Name.
Thus, today, on
this last day of the secular calendar year, and the first day of a new year, we
remember and celebrate the Circumcision and Name of Jesus, because He bore our
sins in His own flesh and redeemed us from our sin and death. “And at the end
of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the Name given by
the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” By the way, this is the
shortest Gospel reading in the Church’s lectionary! St. Paul expounds upon the
meaning of Jesus’ circumcision and name in his Epistle to the Galatians saying,
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons.” And, Paul further explains that Christians receive
the benefit of Jesus’ circumcision and name through Holy Baptism and faith:
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you
are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Through baptism and faith
in Christ, you have been circumcised with a circumcision made without human
hands, a circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit that your hearts may be
made pure from all sins. Through baptism and faith, Jesus’ circumcision, name,
baptism, obedience, death, resurrection, and ascension are also yours. All that
the LORD gave to His people of old through covenants and signs and wonders, now
He gives to you in His Son Jesus Christ.
However, one of
those covenant signs prefiguring Jesus was the blessing the LORD commanded
Aaron to bless His people with: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make
His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His
countenance upon you and give you peace.” Of course, you know that blessing
very well since every divine service and most prayer offices of the Church send
you home with this blessing still today. In this Aaronic Benediction [blessing]
the LORD sends you out with the blessing of His Name upon you. This blessing
bespeaks God’s Word and attitude towards you, that He cares for you and
provides for you, that He favors you, and that He is at peace with you, and you
with Him, in and through Christ Jesus. These are not just some words spoken for
the sake of tradition, but they are the active and performative Word of God
proclaimed to you by your pastor in the stead and by the command of the Lord.
This blessing is God’s Name bestowed upon you in Jesus Christ. You became a new
person in Holy Baptism, literally born again according to the spirit. You were
given a new name, God’s Name, marking you as one redeemed in the holy shed
blood of Jesus. Therefore, as we begin a new year, we remember and give thanks
that our Lord Jesus is making all things new, including ourselves.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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