By law, Jewish boys were circumcised on the eighth day of their birth. Today, on January 1, the eighth day of Jesus’ Nativity, we celebrate this occasion. But why? For two reasons, I suppose.
- Circumcision brought Jesus into both sides of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:1-22). He always was God, but not always man.
- This would have been an official sign of paternity on the part of Joe. Thus, this occasion also marks Jesus’ entrance into both sides of the Davidic covenant as well (2 Samuel 7:8-16).
Both are effected by Joe. As God accepted Abraham and David into everlasting covenants, so Joe accepted, as descendant of both Abraham and David, God into everlasting covenant.
Today is also the day that we recall the bestowal of the Name of Jesus. Here is a flash back to a reflection on the major significance of the little detail of Matthew 1:25, “Who do you say that I am?”
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