January 1
“When eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb,” Luke 2:21.
January 1 is the eighth day following Christmas Day. On our secular calendar, it is designated New Year’s Day, the first day of the new calendar year. In our secular society, it is a paid holiday for most people, and a day for worldly celebrations. For many, it is a day to sober up from excessive eating and drinking while they celebrated New Year’s Eve. For many, there is really nothing ‘new’ about New Year’s Day; it is just another day to do the same old thing.
On the church calendar, however, January 1 has a special significance. Being the eighth day following the birthday of Jesus, it was the day for the circumcision of the baby Jesus.
According to the Old Testament Jewish Law, every male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. The rite of circumcision was commanded by God to Abraham and to all of his descendants. “God said to Abraham: ‘As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant,'” Genesis 17:9-12. Through the rite of circumcision, they became members of the Jewish Church and were numbered with the people of God.
Joseph and Mary observed the ceremonies of the Jewish law. Thus, on the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians: “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons,” Galatians 4:4-5. Jesus fulfilled the laws of God in our place.
On the eighth day, it was also customary to give the child its name publicly. The Savior was given the name Jesus, as the angel had instructed both Mary and Joseph. The angel Gabriel told Mary, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus,” Luke 1:31. The angel told Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins,” Matthew 1:20-21. At His circumcision, Jesus shed the first drops of His holy precious blood to save sinners. The last drops of His blood were shed for our redemption on Calvary’s cross. And Scripture assures us, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,” I John 1:7.
Therefore, on New Year’s Day, the important thing is not to think of what we do, but to remember what God has done for us and for our salvation through the sending of His Son to be our Savior. With our faith in Him as God’s Son and our Savior, we will have a Happy and Blessed New Year!
“Jesus! Name of priceless worth,
To the fallen sons of earth,
For the promise that it gave,
‘Jesus shall His people save.’
Jesus! Name of mercy mild,
Given to the holy Child,
When the cup of human woe,
First He tasted here below.” Amen.