Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read Luke 2:21.

TEXT: And at the end of eight days ... He was
circumcised (see Luke 2:21).

New Year's Day was always an exciting new
beginning. If the old year had brought us pain
and misery, we could rejoice that it was over,
gone, behind us. And in the dawning of a new
day, there was the hope the New Year would
be so much better.

This day was also a new beginning for the baby
Jesus. Jesus is eight days old, and it is now
time to circumcise Him, according to the Law
of the Lord. This ceremony made Jesus a
member of God's people Israel. It also bound
Him under the Law, obligating Him to keep that
Law perfectly. As our Substitute, Jesus perfectly
obeyed God's Law, so His perfection, holiness
and righteousness might be ours, covering our
failings, our flaws and our sins.

But His circumcision carries with it the reminder
that Jesus will not simply cover our sin, He will
remove it from us-forever. On this eighth day of
His young life, Jesus first sheds His blood for us,
but it will certainly not be the last time He does this.
On a dark day 30-some years into the future, Jesus
will shed His blood and die on the cross to satisfy
God's wrath against our sins.

The symbolism of His circumcision and our
baptism both remind us of God's work, cutting off
our sinful nature or drowning it. In baptism God
makes us new creatures, so we can stand before
Him spotless and pure through Jesus Christ. What
a way to start a New Year!

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in Your circumcision Your blood was
first shed as our Substitute. Cut the sin from our
hearts, that we may enter this New Year in Your
holiness and purity. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

TEXT: "And at the end of eight days...He was called
Jesus." (Luke 2:21)

New Year's Eve was exciting when I was a kid. We
say goodbye to the old and ring in the new. With each
New Year came all kinds of exciting opportunities,
hopes and dreams.

Jesus has now reached the age of eight days and
something new is about to happen. Every Israelite boy
who reached the age of eight days was required to be
circumcised and receive his name. As we saw earlier
in the naming of Zechariah and Elizabeth's son John,
names were important to the people of Israel.

Mary and Joseph have already been told the Name that
God has given for His Son. So in obedience they gave
Mary's Child the Name of Jesus. It was a common name
at the time. It means "The Lord is salvation" or "The Lord
saves." In the Old Testament the names Joshua and
Hosea are variants of the name Jesus. Every other
Israelite boy carrying this name in effect reminded people
to turn their attention to God, who is their salvation.

In the case of Mary's Son it was completely different,
however. In His case the Name pointed to Himself as
Lord-the One who is now present to save His people from
their sins. Many years from now His enemies will hurl His
Name back at Him in mockery, as He hangs on the cross:
"He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He trusts in
God, let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He
said, 'I am the Son of God'" (Matthew 27:42-43).

But there on the cross Jesus was fulfilling His Name-the
Lord saving His people from death and hell by suffering for
their sins.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You truly are the Lord who saves His people.
Receive our thanks for being the Savior Your name said
You would be. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read Luke 2:11-12

TEXT: "Unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

I remember being devastated one year when
mom and dad took down our Christmas tree
early. They said it had gotten too dry, but I
never saw any danger. Years later our youth
group had a Christmas tree bonfire. In seconds
the tree exploded into flames, lighting up the
entire field. We all were forced to step back
from the intense heat. In that moment I realized
what great danger we had been in, and how
mom and dad had saved us.

If the shepherds were anything like most people,
they felt no danger sitting out in the fields that
Christmas night. Then in an instant the angel
appeared, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them. In that horrifying moment they saw the
darkness of their sinful lives in the holy light of
God, and they were gripped with terror of His wrath.

Each of us will experience that moment someday-
either at our death or at Christ's return. We will be
immersed in the bright light of God's glory, as we
stand before Him for judgment. God will not weigh
out your good deeds versus your bad deeds, or
compare you to other people. Instead, He will look
deep into your thoughts, desires and attitudes. If
you committed one sin, one single wrongdoing at
any time during your life, you will stand condemned.

But that is why Jesus came as our Savior. He took
every sin to the cross, where He suffered God's fiery
wrath in our place. When we trust Jesus as our Savior,
all our sins are taken away, and we can be confident
we will be able to stand spotless before His judgment
seat.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for taking my place and
suffering for my sins. Guide me to show others why
they need Your salvation too. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)