Luke 2 21 Wyneken
Circumcision of our Lord
Luke 2:21
January 1, 2004
"Eight days later the time came to circumcise him, and He was given the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived."
Beloved in Christ: By the grace of God we are starting a new year today. For each and every guidance by God during the past year, regardless of how different, joyful or sorrowful, it was for only one purpose for each and everyone of us--whether by his chastising and taking away or by his forbearance and giving--that we produce fruit for eternal life in Jesus Christ. It matters not that during the past year some of us might have suffered loss of property, health, relatives or friends. However, whosoever has spent last year without coming to repentance and faith in Christ--or has not grown in faith--his life was once again empty and without gain even though he might have greatly increased his goods, honor, and well-being. Instead of taking great care in saving his soul, he only increased the amount of sins and God's wrath on the day of revelation and divine judgment. For all of God's discipline--in mercy and seriousness, and all His ways lead to Christ, that through Him and in Him we gain forgiveness of sin and eternal life. It is not for nothing that God arranged the world's celebration of the new year to coincides with the church's celebration of the Lord's name-day and the day of His circumcision. Therefore, on this first day of the New Year, together with the Holy Spirit let us: consider the meaning of Christ's circumcision and the name Jesus, and consider how these apply to us at the beginning of the New Year.
I. Beloved, you know that God first instituted circumcision . . . . with Abraham, as the sign of a covenant and a seal for him and his descendants. God had made a covenant with Abraham, and great and mighty things were promised to him and his seed, among which the main promises were: First that through Abraham would come the woman's seed promised in Paradise, who would crush the serpent's head, and, as was specifically promised to Abraham, by whom all mankind would be blessed. Secondly, that He would be the God of Abraham and his descendants. His decedents were to carry this sign of the covenant, circumcision, on their bodies to remind them at all times that they had a merciful God who would aid them in all their timely troubles, save, protect and guard them, and richly bless them. With circumcision came the promise that God would even deliver them from all sin, from death and judgment and give them eternal life. At the same time circumcision was to remind them that all of mankind was conceived and born in sin, and that this inherited sin is upon all people. They were to be constantly aware of the abomination of sin, especially of original sin, so that they would live their lives in continual repentance and humility before God. They were to recognize everything God did for them, be it worldly or spiritual blessings, not as deserving but as a gift of mercy, and they were to be ever mindful to circumcise the foreskin of their hearts so that with God's mercy they could live before Him in a chaste, righteous and God-pleasing manner.
However, Christ's circumcision has a totally different meaning. He was not in need of this sign of a covenant and a seal. He was the Son of the Most High. He himself was righteousness and not conceived and born in sin as other men. He was our equal in everything, except He was without sin. He suffered circumcision in part to demonstrate that He was true man of the seed of Abraham though He was the eternal God. Through His circumcision He gives us an example how one is to lovingly be under all physical ceremonies and laws even if not compelled by the Law. However, the fourth chapter of Paul's Letter to the Galatians lists the main reason: "When the term was completed, God sent his own son, born of a woman, under the Law, to purchase freedom for the subjects of the Law, in order that we might attain the status of sons."
To be under the Law means: To be subject to the Law. The one who is subject to the Law is obligated to obey the Law, and all those who violate the Law will be condemned to punishment. He demands strict obedience and curses and condemns those who violate it.
Yet even the most saintly Christian does not fulfill the Law, neither is he able to do so. Though there have been many who lived devout and saintly lives, never has there been one on earth and there never will be one who fulfilled the Law, except Christ. For, the Law is spiritual, and it demands not only holy works, but a thoroughly pure and holy person. We, however, even though we are believers, are by nature sinners and are under the dominion of sin.
Therefore Christ's circumcision means for us that he submitted to the Law; meaning: he has taken on the obligation to keep the entire Law for us, to fulfill it in the most perfect loving obedience, and to receive for us the wages of sin--that is death and condemnation--in short, all the suffering and pain which the Law had appointed for all time and eternity on the sinner and the violator of the Law. These drops of blood, shed by the baby Jesus during his circumcision, are like a down-payment--a guarantee given for us in God's judgment. He is taking it upon himself to pay the entire debt for us and do everything on our behalf in order to establish a right peace between us and God and His Law.
On the cross, in death, this act was completed. There He gave his life as payment for the sins of the lost children of Adam. With His precious blood He paid the entire redemption and bought them from the condemnation of the Law, saving them from eternal death! Thus, by faith in Him, all who believe have been redeemed from sin, death and Satan. There God's Law has been completely fulfilled, so that now he is a reconciled father who forgives us our sins for Christ's sake. He takes us back as His children, wants to give us life and eternal life, for which he prepares through the Holy Spirit, so that we can be righteous and holy before God.
See now that is the significance of Christ's circumcision. You must agree that it is of the highest importance for a lost sinner. For thus is taken from your shoulders the terrible yoke and horrible burden of the Law and its impossible demands, and the dreadful curses. They are laid upon this dear little child who made the first payment with his drops of blood, taking it upon himself to pay your entire, large debt, so that you can go free. In addition, by this down payment and guarantee he has obtained forgiveness of sin and eternal life for you.
II. How then are we to apply what we have heard to the beginning of the new year? Once again we are standing at the threshold of a new year. It is quite natural to think and wonder: what shall it bring? No one can give an answer, God alone knows. Therefore, if we ask: how will I be doing in my office or vocation? The answer will have to be: God knows. If we ask: what good or bad luck will befall me? The answer again is: God knows. If we ask: shall I survive this year or die? Once again the answer is: God knows.
And how can we look forward? We look forward by looking back and seeing what Jesus has done for us. For the one who has faith in this little child--which here has been given the name Jesus, who with his first drops of blood pays the price of God’s Law and fulfills His judgment on sin. He is the Savior of his people--we can rejoice and confidently step into the New Year.
For this little child, after He completed His work of salvation, is seated at the right hand of God, and His crucified hands are ruling the world. From His hand will come all which befalls us during this year; and His name guarantees that only blessings will come from His hand. It is certainly true that He did not promise you that during this year there will be no misery, suffering and affliction in store for us. On the contrary, we who belong to Him belong to the realm of the crucified; for we know that His followers go through much suffering into the Kingdom of God. God has promised to bring us through all suffering to eternal life. Today's Gospel assures and guarantees this. Christ's circumcision teaches us Christians that all reasons for fear, terror and worry have been removed because we are no longer under the Law with its condemnation and judgment. The name of Jesus encompasses all mercy, all love, all promises, all bliss. It is the guarantee that God is our reconciled father from whom we will receive only good things.
The coming year will bring joy, blessings. It will also bring trial and temptations. We may even become by our own weakness to trust in God and remain faithful to Him. But we are not depending on our own hearts but on our Jesus who saves us from our sins, and gives us renewed mercy in Word and Sacrament; forgiveness of sin surrounds us like the air, it is spread out around us like the sky.
He is faithful, the One who has called you. He will do it for you. Hold on to His Word and Sacrament; do not forsake prayer. Through the means of grace our God will lead us through life and death, through the New Year, with the beautiful name that lightens our way and bring us safely home: J E S U S!