Circumcision and Name of Jesus (2023)

Num 6.22-27; Gal 3:23-29; Luke 2.21-24

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, today is a special day in the Church year, it is not often that we get to celebrate it, but it is the day that our Lord was brought into the Covenant established with Abraham, the day of his circumcision. That seems odd to observe, but it has to do with a promise and covenant that God made with His Old Testament believers to include them in his nation and as one of his people. It is also the day that Jesus receives His name. The name that was given by the angel Gabriel, and the name that is praised in Heaven above, for His name is above every name.

What’s in a Name?

Names carry meaning with them.

There is a reason that we have the name we have, some are named after family members and that connects us back with our history, others are named because there was a famous person with that name, this happens with celebrities today, and in olden times people would use the Bible. In the Scriptures the names literally mean something.

For instance, Abraham means, father of many peoples.

Now God changed Abram, which means father of many to abraham father of many peoples. Now Abram was given the name by his father, who hoped that he would be blessed with many children, but God said, that you shall be the father of many peoples.

God’s name in the Old Testament יהוה or YHWH, means I am or exist.

So Moses asks who shall I say sent me, he responds, I am who I am, that is quite the name and it carries with it significant meaning, about who God is and what he does.

God’s very name means all things depend on Him.

All of us didn’t exist at some point, but were born to parents and so our existence depends upon them. Without our parents we wouldn’t be here. But God depends on no one, He exists, has always and will always exist. His very name tells us not just who He is, but what He is as well.

The Name That Saves

When Gabriel says, this child shall be named Jesus. What does His name mean?

The New Testament is in greek, and so that is why we get the name Jesus, but if we look at the hebrew, we find that his name is Yeshua, which means

YHWH is our Salvation.

So when Gabriel says, you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins, that is literally what His name means. Now in the case of Jesus this name took on special meaning for it was not just a statement about God who saves, but here is God in the flesh, and He will do the saving.

There is no other name by which we must be saved.

When the Disciples confessed this later before the Council, it was a confession not only about who Jesus is, but that God alone can save us from our sins.

What Does This Mean For Us?

This means only faith in Jesus, and His works save.

For Jesus is our Salvation, and so His works are not just the works of men, but the very work of God who accomplishes our salvation. His name is meant to teach us who is the source of our salvation and it is Jesus.

Those who rely on the names of false gods will not be saved.

In their time this meant the gods of the Greeks or Egyptians or Babylonians would not save, but today this means that the other religions like islam, hinduism, taoism, buddhism do not bring us salvation or peace or forgiveness, it is found only in Jesus.

You cannot rely on your name to save.

There are no works good enough that can make your name stand up in the court of heaven. Many assume that when they go before the gates of heaven that they will be able to give their name and based on who they were in this life, the works they accomplished, the money the accrued, that all of their accomplishments will secure them a place, but it won’t.

This is the sad fate of many.

We cling to many different things in this life, and while many of them are good, there is only one name under heaven by which we must be saved.

God Gives His Name to You

God’s name is a great blessing for His people.

So when you stand before the gates of heaven you don’t stand there based upon your own merits, but you bear the very name of God, which saves.

Names don’t just have meaning, they also tell let us know to whom we belong.

For we received our name from someone who claimed us as our own, in the ancient world if a man gave a child a name He had claimed him as His son, this very nearly caused an incident in the ancient world.

In Galatians, we are told for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Means we don’t stand before the throne of God on our own merits, but rather stand there before the throne of God, clothed in Christ’s merits and his righteousness so we are judged according to Christ’s goodness

You were washed with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

That is what receiving this divine name means, that it is placed upon us for our salvation, and so we rest confident in the work of Jesus whose name, the name of God, saves.

Can God’s Name Be Lost?

You cannot lose the name, but you can lose faith.

This is important, once baptized does not mean always saved. Faith must be present and faith is nurtured and sustained by the Word. For what do the Scriptures say?

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Baptism doesn’t go away, but without faith there is only condemnation. In Romans Paul points out that even if one is circumcised, it doesn’t guarantee their salvation if they forsake the Word.

Like the prodigal son, the Father is waiting for His wayward children to come home.

Even though they wandered away from Him and the gift he had given them, He still gave them His name, and He wants His children to be with Him, which is why He continues to call out. So if you have fallen don’t lose heart, but repent and remember when God down and called you His own.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the name of Jesus, the only name under heaven by which men must be saved, Has been given to you, don’t cling to any other name, of man, god, devil, demon, it is only Jesus that is our Salvation. If you have wandered from this name, or have seen family and friends that have wandered. Remind them when God looked down from Heaven and gave them this divine gift, and encourage them to come home for their Father in heaven, His Son desire to see them again around the table. In Jesus name. Amen.