Christmas 2 - The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus (Observed) January 3, 2021
Numbers 6:22-27
A Blessed Name
v.27 So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.
Dear friends in Christ, a blessed 2021 to you all—no doubt you are glad to leave 2020 with all its tragedy and suffering behind. As we began a new secular year this past week, it is good for us to have as our text a beautiful picture of God's loving care for His people in the Old Testament. A new year--new beginnings--remind us of the great joy and blessings that come whenever a child is born. A new child brings with it a sense of hope and excitement for the future--a zest for life--a belief in tremendous potential. Perhaps this will be the child to find a cure for cancer. Perhaps this baby will find a way to end world hunger! Who knows?
And, as with any newborn child, one of the most important tasks for the parents is to come up with a name for the baby. Usually, a great deal of thought has already been put into this process long before said child is ever born. Sometimes parents may argue back and forth over the names for the child, often trying to honour family members and history. "Let's name her after my great aunt Sally…let's name him after my dad."
Mary and Joseph were no different as new parents. In the Gospel text appointed for this festival from St. Luke we have but one verse. The verse that immediately follows the text from the Christmas Eve Gospel, ending with the shepherds returning to their flocks, rejoicing in all that God had revealed to them about the Messiah's birth. "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." Eight days after He was born, Mary and Joseph took the newborn Lord and had Him circumcised, in accordance with the Law, and gave Him the name that the angel Gabriel had given to Mary and Joseph before He was even conceived--Jesus. The name that described the future and destiny of the baby boy--for He is God in the flesh--come to save His people from their sins. Already at the tender age of just eight days, He was beginning this monumental task.
Names are important for us, aren’t they? Parents take a great deal of time and effort in selecting just the right name for their baby. Some names carry the weight of family history and honour behind them. Other times names are chosen because of the deep meaning behind them. We all have names that connect us to our families--parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, children, etc.
As Christians we are connected by a name as well. A name that unites us and binds us together in our common faith. The very name of the Lord God Himself--the name with which the Lord bade His priests in the Old Testament to bless His people--is the same way in which pastors in our church tradition continue to bless God's people each week at the end of every service: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. This is the name that the Lord commanded His priests to put upon the people so that He might bless them. Note the threefold nature of this blessing and God's name. This was a foreshadowing of the future blessing of the revealed triune name of God given to His people in Holy Baptism so that He might bless them fully and completely.
This is the same name that each and every one of you has upon you, dear friends. The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The name of God has been put upon you in your Baptism and now you are truly blessed.
I know it doesn't always seem like it. In fact, it seems that Christians are smeared more and more in our culture. That the name "Christian" carries with it the connotations of "bigot, hater, backwards, and stupid." We receive heaps of bad names upon us, simply for speaking the truth of God's Word in love. Yet the more that you are shamed, ridiculed, mocked, and hated--the more bad names you are called--remember that you have another name upon you. A name that is above all other names. A name that brings incredible and ultimate blessings.
As Luther wrote in his Large Catechism, Part IV, par 10, "To be baptized in God's name is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself." Furthermore (par 16)," the kernel in the water is God's Word or command and God's name. His name is a treasure greater and nobler than heaven and earth."
Baptism gives the great blessings of forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Indeed (par 42), "Baptism promises and brings victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sins, God's grace, the entire Christ, and the Holy Spirit with His gifts." Faith clings to the Word and promises of God in Baptism because of the Lord's command and institution of this great gift and the fact that His name abides in it. "Where God's name is there must also be life and salvation (par. 27). "
Beloved, you have received in Baptism a name that removes all guilt and stain of your sin--a name that promises the reward of heaven--and the bliss of eternal life. Which is why you may now stand firm in the face of vile name calling shouted at you in anger by the unbelieving world. Furthermore, Baptism enables you to withstand the assaults of the evil one, who seeks to undermine and destroy your faith by accusing you relentlessly of your great sin and error and vice. Because your Baptism is a work and a gift of God done entirely outside of you, you have something sure and certain to cling to and run toward when overwhelmed with guilt and despair. You return to your Baptismal water and the name which you received therein. You cry in opposition to the devil's attacks, "But I am baptized! Therefore, I know that God loves me dearly and has sent His beloved Son to save me! Depart from me you worker of lawlessness--you liar!"
Dear friends, in Baptism you have a gift like no other. As Dr. Luther illustrates in the Large Catechism (par 43), "Imagine there was a doctor somewhere who understood the art of saving people from death or, even though they died, could restore them quickly to life so that they would afterward live forever. Oh, how the world would pour in money like snow and rain. No one could find access to him because of the throng of the rich! But here in Baptism there is freely brought to everyone's door such a treasure and medicine that it utterly destroys death and preserves all people alive." This is your gift, beloved. You life. Your salvation. All because you have been blessed with Baptism into the Holy Name of God--the name by which the Lord promises to bless His people and work salvation.
And it is yours--for free! Forever! How can we not share this good name with others? How can we not lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving to the One whose name is so wonderful that it forgives, saves, and brings life eternal? Beloved, rejoice in the Lord! Not even the name COVID can dampen your spirits—for you have the name of the Lord upon you. The name of eternal joy and blessing. The name of your Baptism. The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The name that gives you the benefits of Jesus' blood and righteousness. With His name you are blessed, you have His grace, and have been given His peace. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Numbers 6:22-27
A Blessed Name
v.27 So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.
Dear friends in Christ, a blessed 2021 to you all—no doubt you are glad to leave 2020 with all its tragedy and suffering behind. As we began a new secular year this past week, it is good for us to have as our text a beautiful picture of God's loving care for His people in the Old Testament. A new year--new beginnings--remind us of the great joy and blessings that come whenever a child is born. A new child brings with it a sense of hope and excitement for the future--a zest for life--a belief in tremendous potential. Perhaps this will be the child to find a cure for cancer. Perhaps this baby will find a way to end world hunger! Who knows?
And, as with any newborn child, one of the most important tasks for the parents is to come up with a name for the baby. Usually, a great deal of thought has already been put into this process long before said child is ever born. Sometimes parents may argue back and forth over the names for the child, often trying to honour family members and history. "Let's name her after my great aunt Sally…let's name him after my dad."
Mary and Joseph were no different as new parents. In the Gospel text appointed for this festival from St. Luke we have but one verse. The verse that immediately follows the text from the Christmas Eve Gospel, ending with the shepherds returning to their flocks, rejoicing in all that God had revealed to them about the Messiah's birth. "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." Eight days after He was born, Mary and Joseph took the newborn Lord and had Him circumcised, in accordance with the Law, and gave Him the name that the angel Gabriel had given to Mary and Joseph before He was even conceived--Jesus. The name that described the future and destiny of the baby boy--for He is God in the flesh--come to save His people from their sins. Already at the tender age of just eight days, He was beginning this monumental task.
Names are important for us, aren’t they? Parents take a great deal of time and effort in selecting just the right name for their baby. Some names carry the weight of family history and honour behind them. Other times names are chosen because of the deep meaning behind them. We all have names that connect us to our families--parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, children, etc.
As Christians we are connected by a name as well. A name that unites us and binds us together in our common faith. The very name of the Lord God Himself--the name with which the Lord bade His priests in the Old Testament to bless His people--is the same way in which pastors in our church tradition continue to bless God's people each week at the end of every service: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. This is the name that the Lord commanded His priests to put upon the people so that He might bless them. Note the threefold nature of this blessing and God's name. This was a foreshadowing of the future blessing of the revealed triune name of God given to His people in Holy Baptism so that He might bless them fully and completely.
This is the same name that each and every one of you has upon you, dear friends. The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The name of God has been put upon you in your Baptism and now you are truly blessed.
I know it doesn't always seem like it. In fact, it seems that Christians are smeared more and more in our culture. That the name "Christian" carries with it the connotations of "bigot, hater, backwards, and stupid." We receive heaps of bad names upon us, simply for speaking the truth of God's Word in love. Yet the more that you are shamed, ridiculed, mocked, and hated--the more bad names you are called--remember that you have another name upon you. A name that is above all other names. A name that brings incredible and ultimate blessings.
As Luther wrote in his Large Catechism, Part IV, par 10, "To be baptized in God's name is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself." Furthermore (par 16)," the kernel in the water is God's Word or command and God's name. His name is a treasure greater and nobler than heaven and earth."
Baptism gives the great blessings of forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Indeed (par 42), "Baptism promises and brings victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sins, God's grace, the entire Christ, and the Holy Spirit with His gifts." Faith clings to the Word and promises of God in Baptism because of the Lord's command and institution of this great gift and the fact that His name abides in it. "Where God's name is there must also be life and salvation (par. 27). "
Beloved, you have received in Baptism a name that removes all guilt and stain of your sin--a name that promises the reward of heaven--and the bliss of eternal life. Which is why you may now stand firm in the face of vile name calling shouted at you in anger by the unbelieving world. Furthermore, Baptism enables you to withstand the assaults of the evil one, who seeks to undermine and destroy your faith by accusing you relentlessly of your great sin and error and vice. Because your Baptism is a work and a gift of God done entirely outside of you, you have something sure and certain to cling to and run toward when overwhelmed with guilt and despair. You return to your Baptismal water and the name which you received therein. You cry in opposition to the devil's attacks, "But I am baptized! Therefore, I know that God loves me dearly and has sent His beloved Son to save me! Depart from me you worker of lawlessness--you liar!"
Dear friends, in Baptism you have a gift like no other. As Dr. Luther illustrates in the Large Catechism (par 43), "Imagine there was a doctor somewhere who understood the art of saving people from death or, even though they died, could restore them quickly to life so that they would afterward live forever. Oh, how the world would pour in money like snow and rain. No one could find access to him because of the throng of the rich! But here in Baptism there is freely brought to everyone's door such a treasure and medicine that it utterly destroys death and preserves all people alive." This is your gift, beloved. You life. Your salvation. All because you have been blessed with Baptism into the Holy Name of God--the name by which the Lord promises to bless His people and work salvation.
And it is yours--for free! Forever! How can we not share this good name with others? How can we not lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving to the One whose name is so wonderful that it forgives, saves, and brings life eternal? Beloved, rejoice in the Lord! Not even the name COVID can dampen your spirits—for you have the name of the Lord upon you. The name of eternal joy and blessing. The name of your Baptism. The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The name that gives you the benefits of Jesus' blood and righteousness. With His name you are blessed, you have His grace, and have been given His peace. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.