Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Eighth Christmas Day
Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
JESUS! NAME OF WONDROUS LOVE
On the church calendar the seventh day after Christmas is "The Circumcision and Name of Jesus" -- for among the Jews of Jesus' time it was traditionally on the seventh day after a male child's birth that the naming ceremony took place. In many ancient cultures the father was responsible for naming his sons -- or at least seen as having a major influence. That was certainly the case with John the Baptizer (Luke 1:59-63). This was also true with Jesus. But since Joseph was not Jesus' biological father, the name Joseph gave Mary's first-born Son came from His true Father -- via the angel Gabriel.
" ... an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins'" (Matthew 1:20-21).
"Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above ..."
That God should become human is a mystery -- a miracle beyond human anticipation. That this should take place in order to rescue God's obstinate enemies from their well-deserved destruction -- that reveals a depth of divine love that cannot be plumbed. But what we cannot truly understand, we can gratefully praise.
Come, your hearts and voices raising, Christ the Lord with gladness praising;
Loudly sing His love amazing, Worthy folk of Christendom.
See how God, for us providing, Gave His Son and life abiding;
He our weary steps is guiding From earth's woe to heavenly joy.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 90:1, 3)
