New Years Day

Luke 2:21-24

January 1, 2003

“Circumcision of Our Lord”

Introduction:  It is now the eighth day since we celebrated the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord, born in Bethlehem the city of David.  Our Lord’s work for us begins immediately after His birth.   After the Son of God was Incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, there were certain preparations that had to take place in preparation for His work as our Mediator and High Priest.  The Gospel text is one verse of Luke, chapter 2.  Please listen again to verse 21 ...   “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.”

The circumcision of our Lord Jesus probably took place in Bethlehem on the eighth day after His birth.  Being the Son of Mary and "being named as the Son of Joseph" (Luke 3:23), the Infant King was to be circumcised and named.  These two events in the life of our Lord are important and connected.  In them we behold two important and necessary preparations for our Lord’s ministry.   The first one was the naming of our Lord, which we meditated on last night.   The other preparation, by the Law of Moses, took place on the eighth day was that of circumcision.  This holy rite, instituted and commanded by God, had God's Word of promise attached to it.   Through it infant boys were brought into the congregation of the Old Testament church (Genesis 17:9-14).  Thus the eight-day-old infant had the forgiveness of sin, eternal life and salvation that God had promised in His Word.  This reminds us of and points to Baptism whereby infants are brought into the congregation of the New Testament church.  Thus our babies today's, baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost have forgiveness of sin, eternal life and salvation that God promises in His Word.  

At thirty or so years of age, Jesus was baptized ...  though He is without sin.   He did not need to be baptized for Himself; but He was baptized for all people in order "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15) as He is preparing for the atoning Sacrifice on the cross.  At eight days of age, He is circumcised ...  though He is without sin.   He is the Head of the Church and He is her Savior.   Likewise, Jesus did not need to be circumcised for Himself, but He was circumcised for us in our place, male and female, young and old.   This was done so that we might know that because of our Baptism we share in Christ’s circumcision.   The Apostle Paul writes, “in Him you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11).   Jesus - on the eighth day - is already shedding His first Blood in His atoning Sacrifice.  The Infant High Priest offers it in order that He might fulfill the Law on our behalf.  "Indeed, under the Law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22).  The Lord’s circumcision is a sign of both the force of the law and of the sacrifice that would be required for Christ to deliver us from the laws demands.  Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Law for all people.  This is true also of His circumcision.  Having fulfilled the Law New Testament believers are free from its obligation.

Sign of the Covenant

            Circumcision was not just a mark of God’s law; it was also a sign of His grace.  It was the mark, which reminded of God’s promise to Abraham and all His offspring for the generation to come.  It was a reminder of God’s covenant with Abraham that the Lord would send the Savior through His line.  While men bear the mark of the promise it would be God who would fulfill it by sending His only begotten Son to be born from the family line of Abraham.  Through Abraham the Savior of the nations would come.  Now that the Savior has come there is no need for the mark that signifies God’s promise to send the Savior.  Like a promissory note that has been paid off, it is no longer needed so it is with circumcision.

Baptism

            Our Lord calls us to baptize our children so that they may be received into Christ’s Church as fellow heirs of salvation.  Rather than cutting away at the flesh that signified sin and rebellion with God, by the command of the Lord we now wash them in the waters of Holy Baptism.  In Baptism the Lord circumcises the heart.  By faith in Christ God’s grace is received, sins are forgiven and eternal life is given.  All of these are given for the sake of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood.

Conclusion:  Our Savior shed His blood for you.   The shedding of the His blood begins in His circumcision.    It continued to be shed from the stripes on His back, and then from the crown of thorns on His sacred head.   Finally it culminates in the piercing of His hands and side as His hands are nailed to the cross and a spear is thrust threw His side.  There is no forgiveness where there is no shedding of blood.  In Christ Jesus we have the all-availing sacrifice, begun at His circumcision and culminating in His crucifixion.  As we begin a new year it is fitting that we begin by remembering that we do not belong to ourselves.  We belong to God and we have been bought at a price…not with gold or silver but with our Saviors holy precious blood.  Amen.