“And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.” – Luke 2:21-24 Even though He came to deliver His people from the bondage of the Law, Jesus was “made under the Law” and obeyed its commands. He did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it. Joseph and Mary had the child circumcised when He was eight days old, obeying the Law. This was the sign and seal of the covenant that God made with Abraham, and it was required of every Jewish male who wanted to practice the faith. In obedience to the Lord, Mary and Joseph named Him Jesus, which means “Jehovah is salvation”. Jesus’ relationship to the Law is an important part of His ministry. He was made under the Law (Gal. 4:4); and though He rejected man’s religious traditions, He obeyed God’s Law perfectly. After Christmas many people are making resolutions for the upcoming year. It’s a great time to evaluate your spiritual life. Are you obeying God’s word or are you simply following religious traditions? Once you get that nailed down you can move forward intentionally and be more effective in the New Year!
Posted on: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 13:00:01 +0000