THE MAJESTIC NAME”
The Circumcision and Name of Jesus
January 1, 2017
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
TEXT:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1 (ESV)
There are actually two different themes that we ought to be focusing on this morning: While the secular world busies itself with the celebration of a new calendar year (sometimes apparently requiring the artificial dulling of the senses to mask the passing of time), we in the Christian Church observe the Circumcision of Our Lord--a rite which, among the Jewish people in ancient times did, (and to a certain extent still does today) mark the formal naming of a child as well as his initiation into the covenant people of God. This ritual was the first of many events in the life of Jesus through which He "fulfil[led] all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15), completing each and every requirement of God's Law in the place of sinners. It was at the circumcision of the eight-day old Child of Mary that "He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb" (Luke 2:21).
There does not, however, necessarily have to be a complete disconnect between the secular celebration of the new year and the liturgical celebration of our Lord's circumcision and naming because, for the Christian, both of these observances center on the Lord Jesus Christ. A new calendar year is an ideal time for us as the baptized people of God to remember who we are through God's call and Spirit--an ideal time for us to remember that every day is a new beginning for us even as we live under the cross in this world. That's why most of our worship services begin with the invocation of the name into which we were baptized. And as we hear these words, some of also make the sign of the cross with which we were marked (or branded, if you will) at our Baptism as people who belong to the crucified and risen Christ. It's also a time for us to remember that, new year or not, we are one with all the saints of God of every time and place. What this means is that we today are hearing the same Word of the Gospel and partaking of the same body and blood of Christ that saved and nourished the apostles--the same Gospel that has been proclaimed through the centuries and the same body and blood of Christ that were offered for us and for all sinners on the altar of the cross twenty centuries ago. As we celebrate a new year of God's grace and remember our Savior's circumcision, let's focus this morning especially on His Person and His name.
When we think about the story of Christmas, we always need to be very careful to make sure that we don't lose sight of who it is that this story is all about. It's so easy for us to get all wrapped up into the sentimentality of it all: a poor couple finding no place but a stable for this young woman to give birth to her first Child; the appearance of an angel to sleepy shepherds over the field outside of Bethlehem, telling them about the birth of their Savior and then suddenly being joined by a huge heavenly choir singing the praises of God. But as sweet and sentimental as all of this is, this story is about something that is infinitely greater than just a Child born in poverty. This is no ordinary child. This Child is God incarnate. This is the One who created, sustains, and rules the universe--the One who people worship and to whom they pray. In His infinite mercy and grace this King of kings and Lord of lords has chosen to enter human history as a Human in order to redeem sinful humans and to reconcile them to Himself.
What the incarnation of Christ means is that God has now become Man in every sense of the word. No longer do we need to wonder if God really knows what it's like to walk in our shoes, because in Christ He has, in fact, walked in our shoes. No longer do we need to struggle with how God would handle the trials and temptations that we face in life, because in Christ He has endured far worse trials and temptations and has overcome them all. No longer do we need to agonize over the great rift that exists between God and us--a rift that was created and is maintained by our rebellion and sin--because in Christ God has healed that rift forever by the forgiveness our of sins. And no longer do we need to think of God as Someone "out there"--far removed from us--because in Christ He is now among us and with us and in us. All of this is the result of His redeeming love for us--love so strong that it moved Him to lay aside His divine honor and glory for a time and to humble Himself so that He might take our place under the Law and judgment of God to accomplish our salvation. We praise and glorify His holy and majestic name because of His mercy and grace toward us and all sinners.
As far as His name is concerned, we have become so accustomed to referring to our Savior as "Jesus Christ" that we have come to think of it almost as if we are talking about His first and last names. In reality, however, it would be more accurate for us to say: "Jesus, the Christ." Our Savior's given name is Jesus, the name that was given for Him by angelic messengers before His birth to both His mother Mary (Luke 1:31) and her betrothed, Joseph (Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus is a form of the Old Testament name Joshua, which means, literally: "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation," This is apparent from the words that were spoken by the angel to Joseph in a dream: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The majestic name that was given to the Child whose birth we celebrate is a name that identifies Him as the Savior of sinners.
The other name by which He is commonly known--Christ--is not really a name at all, but rather a title. In the original it is Christos. This is the is the Greek form of the Hebrew title Meshiach or "Messiah"--the title used throughout the Old Testament Scriptures to refer to the promised Deliverer of God's people. That title means "the Anointed One." The catechism explains the significance of this title when it says: "Jesus has been anointed with the Holy Spirit without limit to be our Prophet, Priest, and King" (Small Catechism, Second Article of the Creed). "Christ" was not a name by which Jesus was commonly known during His earthly ministry (although many people speculated as to whether or not He might be the Christ). When we use this title in reference to Jesus, we are acknowledging Him to be the One anointed by God Himself to be Immanu-el--"God-with-us."
The coming of this Savior--Jesus, the Christ--has changed everything for us. For one thing, it has changed the way in which we number the years. But infinitely more important than that, it has changed the way that we live our lives. Instead of being on a hopeless journey toward death and destruction, everything that we do and endure now has meaning and purpose--not because of who we are or how good we are, but solely because of the One who came to reconcile us to God and to make us new by the power of His Holy Spirit--the Spirit that has been given to us in Baptism. That Savior and that Spirit will guide us every step of the way in the new year and always as we await the Savior's glorious return and the revelation of the everlasting glory that is ours as a free gift of His grace.
Amen.
May the true Light which enlightens everyone, which has come into the world, shining brightly in the darkness, be your very life. And may the Word become flesh, Jesus Christ Himself, continue to make known to you His redeeming grace and truth now and always. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. Amen.