Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 3:23-29; St Luke 2:21
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Dear people loved by God, we stand again at the threshold of a new year. It is natural to wonder, “What will it bring?” But no one can answer that. The Lord knows. You might also ask, “How will it go with my job this year?” The answer must be: the Lord knows. “Will fortune or misfortune come upon me?” Again, the Lord knows. “Will I live through this year? Or will I be called to my eternal home?” Again, the Lord knows.
Whatever paths on which our Lord has taken you this past year - no matter how diverse, joyous, or sorrowful they may have been - they have all had this one goal with each of you. Whether our Lord has disciplined and deprived you, or He has spared you trouble and provided bountifully for you, His goal for you all in Christ Jesus is to strengthen your faith in Him and bring forth fruit unto eternal life.
It will be no different for the year ahead. It is no coincidence that our Lord God has so ordered the world’s New Year celebration to happen on the eighth day of Christmas, the eighth day since our Savior’s birth, the day the Church celebrates the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. This is your doorway through which you go forward into this New Year. Ahead may be darkness and uncertainty, but the Lord has painted upon this entrance a beautiful and comforting image of the circumcision of Christ and the sweet and precious name Jesus. By this image, this painting, through this entrance, you can look into the fatherly heart of God in heaven.
As you know, beloved, God first introduced circumcision with Abraham as a sign of the covenant and seal for him and his offspring. It is seen in many passages throughout the Old and New Testament, but its origin lies in God’s Word to Abraham in Genesis 17: I am God Almighty, walk before Me and be blameless, that I may make My covenant between Me and you, and may multiply you greatly. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcision. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised (Gn 17:1-2, 10, 12).
This is a promise. The Lord shall be his God and the God of all his descendants after him. From him the Lord would bring forth the Seed of the woman promised in Paradise. He would trample the head of the serpent. Circumcision is the sign and seal of the covenant that they would bear on their bodies. It would be a constant reminder that they have a gracious God. A God who would help them in temporal afflictions, save them, guard and protect them, and richly bless them. Indeed this God would redeem them from sin, death, and judgment and given them eternal life.
At the same time, circumcision was a reminder that all men are conceived and born in sin. The heinousness of sin, particularly original sin - that we by nature lack true fear, loved, and trust in God above all things - needs to constantly be held before the all. It is serious. Look back over this past year, beloved, what sins have you to confess? What indiscretions? What deceit and trickery? What anger and hatred? What gossip and slander? Indeed we have offended the Lord our God this past year with our sins. We do deserve His temporal and eternal punishment.
So enters Christ, and on this day, the first of a new year, submits Himself to the covenant sign of circumcision and the curse and judgment of the Law. He had no personal need for circumcision. No need to be under the covenant and the Law. He is the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the One who instituted circumcision. He is the Cutter of the covenant. The One who swears by Himself, by His own Name.
But here, for your sake, He subjects Himself to the judgment of the Law and the flint knife of circumcision. He takes upon Himself the curse of the Law and receives for you the wages of your sin. These drops of blood that the dear child Jesus shed here on the 8th day are, as it were, earnest money, the downpayment, which your Guarantor lays down against the judgment of God. Through it He pledges to pay the entire debut and establish peace between you and the Father by the new covenant in His Blood.
This He completes in His Cross and Passion, by His death and Resurrection. His whole life was a sin offering given for you, the lost children of Adam. His precious blood paid the full ransom and purchased you back from the curse of the Law. The Law can no longer threaten you. You have a reconciled Father, who for the sake of Jesus forgives your sins, receives you again as His dear children, and freely gives you life and salvation.
Do you see what Christ’s circumcision means? This is of highest importance and blessing for lost sinners. Here the fearful yoke and unbearable weight of the Law is taken off your shoulders and laid upon this beloved little Child. He is named Jesus. The name given by the angel to the Virgin Mary, repeated to Joseph in a dream, bestowed by the Father upon His Son who saves His people from their sins. People loved by God, in Jesus you have a Redeemer who loves you and taken upon Himself your sin, your curse, that He might ransom and reconcile you.
This same Jesus who freed you from the wages of sin and death, guards and protects you in all danger and suffering that may come upon you this new year and throughout your life. Indeed, He controls these sufferings so they can only serve for your good. At the last He will finally rescue you completely from them, lead you through death to eternal life and blessedness. All of this is contained in His name: Jesus.
And this Name is given to you, placed upon you by the Lord Himself in Holy Baptism, even as Christ Himself is put upon you, to clothe and shield you, as holy and spotless garment to wear and remember always, as you heard from St Paul. The Apostle elsewhere writes, In Him you also were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Jesus from the dead (Col 2:11-12).
This Jesus is now seated at the Father’s right hand. Through His nail scarred hands He rules and governs the entire cosmos, the world, and even all things that befall you. But fear not, for His blood and His name are the guarantee that out of His hand must flow pure blessing for you.
Now this does not mean that no want or sickness or trouble or hardship will befall you this year. Rather, has He not said to you, Unless a man take up his cross daily and follow Me, he cannot be my disciple (Lk 9:23)? At your Baptism He allowed you to be marked with His Cross. You are taught to make the sign of the holy cross upon yourself in His name. Beloved, you belong to the cruciform kingdom of the Crucified King. And as His disciples you will pass through many troubles to enter the kingdom of heaven. As certain as you are a Christian, for He has made you one, so certain will you experience cross and suffering. My friends, if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebul, how much more will they persecute those of His household (Mt 10:25)?
Nevertheless, in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. The Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus teaches us that we have a Savior. By His blood He has removed every cause of fear and worry because the Law with its curses and judgments has been removed.
Whatever misfortune may affect you, it is not punishment or anger from God. Rather is the disciplining hand of a loving Father. Yes, its possibly that this new year you will face suffering and trials. All Christians do. You may become poor in earthly possessions. It is possible that God may sift His Church in this country through persecution. It is possible you may fall asleep in Christ this year. The Lord knows.
What you know and believe is in the One who conquered death and brought life and immortality to light. His Name is placed on you. And the Name Jesus encompasses all compassion, all love, all promises, all blessedness. It guarantees that God is with us and is our reconciled Father. Fear not. The Almighty who sits on the throne of glory, who rules in the midst of His enemies, before whom all knees must bow, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth, He is your Jesus, your Savior, Brother, Bridegroom and Friend. He not only loves you, He likes you too.
Come, people loved by God, and receive His Body given and His Blood shed for you for the first of many times this year. Here is the One who is faithful. He will complete the good work He began in you. And if you need a resolution, how about these: Hold fast to His Word and Supper. Do not forsake or despise prayer. Do not neglect to meet together in the Divine Service. And according to His will and Word He will give you a blessed end and lead you into an eternal and new jubilee year, in true peace and blessedness. And right in the struggle of death, this most beautiful name will enlighten and happily bring you through to eternal life: JESUS! Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Dear people loved by God, we stand again at the threshold of a new year. It is natural to wonder, “What will it bring?” But no one can answer that. The Lord knows. You might also ask, “How will it go with my job this year?” The answer must be: the Lord knows. “Will fortune or misfortune come upon me?” Again, the Lord knows. “Will I live through this year? Or will I be called to my eternal home?” Again, the Lord knows.
Whatever paths on which our Lord has taken you this past year - no matter how diverse, joyous, or sorrowful they may have been - they have all had this one goal with each of you. Whether our Lord has disciplined and deprived you, or He has spared you trouble and provided bountifully for you, His goal for you all in Christ Jesus is to strengthen your faith in Him and bring forth fruit unto eternal life.
It will be no different for the year ahead. It is no coincidence that our Lord God has so ordered the world’s New Year celebration to happen on the eighth day of Christmas, the eighth day since our Savior’s birth, the day the Church celebrates the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. This is your doorway through which you go forward into this New Year. Ahead may be darkness and uncertainty, but the Lord has painted upon this entrance a beautiful and comforting image of the circumcision of Christ and the sweet and precious name Jesus. By this image, this painting, through this entrance, you can look into the fatherly heart of God in heaven.
As you know, beloved, God first introduced circumcision with Abraham as a sign of the covenant and seal for him and his offspring. It is seen in many passages throughout the Old and New Testament, but its origin lies in God’s Word to Abraham in Genesis 17: I am God Almighty, walk before Me and be blameless, that I may make My covenant between Me and you, and may multiply you greatly. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcision. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised (Gn 17:1-2, 10, 12).
This is a promise. The Lord shall be his God and the God of all his descendants after him. From him the Lord would bring forth the Seed of the woman promised in Paradise. He would trample the head of the serpent. Circumcision is the sign and seal of the covenant that they would bear on their bodies. It would be a constant reminder that they have a gracious God. A God who would help them in temporal afflictions, save them, guard and protect them, and richly bless them. Indeed this God would redeem them from sin, death, and judgment and given them eternal life.
At the same time, circumcision was a reminder that all men are conceived and born in sin. The heinousness of sin, particularly original sin - that we by nature lack true fear, loved, and trust in God above all things - needs to constantly be held before the all. It is serious. Look back over this past year, beloved, what sins have you to confess? What indiscretions? What deceit and trickery? What anger and hatred? What gossip and slander? Indeed we have offended the Lord our God this past year with our sins. We do deserve His temporal and eternal punishment.
So enters Christ, and on this day, the first of a new year, submits Himself to the covenant sign of circumcision and the curse and judgment of the Law. He had no personal need for circumcision. No need to be under the covenant and the Law. He is the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the One who instituted circumcision. He is the Cutter of the covenant. The One who swears by Himself, by His own Name.
But here, for your sake, He subjects Himself to the judgment of the Law and the flint knife of circumcision. He takes upon Himself the curse of the Law and receives for you the wages of your sin. These drops of blood that the dear child Jesus shed here on the 8th day are, as it were, earnest money, the downpayment, which your Guarantor lays down against the judgment of God. Through it He pledges to pay the entire debut and establish peace between you and the Father by the new covenant in His Blood.
This He completes in His Cross and Passion, by His death and Resurrection. His whole life was a sin offering given for you, the lost children of Adam. His precious blood paid the full ransom and purchased you back from the curse of the Law. The Law can no longer threaten you. You have a reconciled Father, who for the sake of Jesus forgives your sins, receives you again as His dear children, and freely gives you life and salvation.
Do you see what Christ’s circumcision means? This is of highest importance and blessing for lost sinners. Here the fearful yoke and unbearable weight of the Law is taken off your shoulders and laid upon this beloved little Child. He is named Jesus. The name given by the angel to the Virgin Mary, repeated to Joseph in a dream, bestowed by the Father upon His Son who saves His people from their sins. People loved by God, in Jesus you have a Redeemer who loves you and taken upon Himself your sin, your curse, that He might ransom and reconcile you.
This same Jesus who freed you from the wages of sin and death, guards and protects you in all danger and suffering that may come upon you this new year and throughout your life. Indeed, He controls these sufferings so they can only serve for your good. At the last He will finally rescue you completely from them, lead you through death to eternal life and blessedness. All of this is contained in His name: Jesus.
And this Name is given to you, placed upon you by the Lord Himself in Holy Baptism, even as Christ Himself is put upon you, to clothe and shield you, as holy and spotless garment to wear and remember always, as you heard from St Paul. The Apostle elsewhere writes, In Him you also were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Jesus from the dead (Col 2:11-12).
This Jesus is now seated at the Father’s right hand. Through His nail scarred hands He rules and governs the entire cosmos, the world, and even all things that befall you. But fear not, for His blood and His name are the guarantee that out of His hand must flow pure blessing for you.
Now this does not mean that no want or sickness or trouble or hardship will befall you this year. Rather, has He not said to you, Unless a man take up his cross daily and follow Me, he cannot be my disciple (Lk 9:23)? At your Baptism He allowed you to be marked with His Cross. You are taught to make the sign of the holy cross upon yourself in His name. Beloved, you belong to the cruciform kingdom of the Crucified King. And as His disciples you will pass through many troubles to enter the kingdom of heaven. As certain as you are a Christian, for He has made you one, so certain will you experience cross and suffering. My friends, if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebul, how much more will they persecute those of His household (Mt 10:25)?
Nevertheless, in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. The Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus teaches us that we have a Savior. By His blood He has removed every cause of fear and worry because the Law with its curses and judgments has been removed.
Whatever misfortune may affect you, it is not punishment or anger from God. Rather is the disciplining hand of a loving Father. Yes, its possibly that this new year you will face suffering and trials. All Christians do. You may become poor in earthly possessions. It is possible that God may sift His Church in this country through persecution. It is possible you may fall asleep in Christ this year. The Lord knows.
What you know and believe is in the One who conquered death and brought life and immortality to light. His Name is placed on you. And the Name Jesus encompasses all compassion, all love, all promises, all blessedness. It guarantees that God is with us and is our reconciled Father. Fear not. The Almighty who sits on the throne of glory, who rules in the midst of His enemies, before whom all knees must bow, whether in heaven or on earth or under the earth, He is your Jesus, your Savior, Brother, Bridegroom and Friend. He not only loves you, He likes you too.
Come, people loved by God, and receive His Body given and His Blood shed for you for the first of many times this year. Here is the One who is faithful. He will complete the good work He began in you. And if you need a resolution, how about these: Hold fast to His Word and Supper. Do not forsake or despise prayer. Do not neglect to meet together in the Divine Service. And according to His will and Word He will give you a blessed end and lead you into an eternal and new jubilee year, in true peace and blessedness. And right in the struggle of death, this most beautiful name will enlighten and happily bring you through to eternal life: JESUS! Amen.
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