THE NAMING & CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS

Sunday - 1st January 2006

Kingdom Season 10  |  Year A  |  Proper 35 Track 1  |  Ordinary Time Week 40 (Year B)

Numbers 6.22-27  |  Galatians 4.4-7   |  Luke 2.15-21 : To see the current week's readings, click here

The naming and circumcision always falls on the first of January, but this year January 1st is a Sunday - which is why we’re celebrating it today! It’s not a new invention, but another part of the Christmas celebration of Incarnation, when we recall how fully human Jesus was: by circumcision he is included into the People of Israel; he first shed his blood, and is given a name. And so we’re shown that Jesus was fully human, fully entered into our experiences.

His circumcision links Jesus with Abraham - the one through whom God promised to bless the whole world; and his name links him with Joshua - who led the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

We are also reminded that Jesus - the name derived from Joshua - was Jewish. Rabbi Lionel Blue once said that he found Jesus a hugely attractive character because he was so Jewish - he stayed at home until he was 30, worked in the family business - he thought his mother was a virgin and she thought he was God...

SO, WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Names are an important part of our identity. Remember that 1960s series The Prisoner “I’m not a number!” - by taking away a person’s name something of their identity goes with it.

Likewise knowing a name in the Old Testament was about having a degree of control over somebody. Hence when Moses asked what name he should use in speaking of God, God said “I am who I am..” there is nobody to whom you can compare me: you do not control me... We’re left with the impression that Moses wanted to be able to switch the “God tap” on and off and control God to the people, but God was having non of it.

Also names were believed to have a destiny-mapping element to them... so if you were called Abigail (Father’s joy), or Joshua (God saves), that was a slightly different matter than being called Lo-Amini (not my people), or Jabez (Pain)...

NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES

We’re told that the name of Jesus is above every name (Hebrews 1.4), and that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow... (Philippians 2.9-10)

Why? Because the name is derived from Joshua and means “Yahweh saves”.

That was to be the destiny of the babe in the manger... and even at this early stage in the baby’s life the shadow of the cross begins to fall over the manger.

And we who bear his name (Christ-ians) do well to remind ourselves that amidst the tinsel and fluffiness of babies and Christmas there is a sharp edge to Christmas.

SYMBOLIC OF REDEMPTION

So in the naming and circumcision we are reminded that God stepped into our experience not just to sympathise with us; not just so that God could say “Yes, being human is a difficult business...” but in order to redeem us; to rescue us and so show us how to live the life he has given us.

The naming and circumcision shows us that God truly journeys with us. That’s why it’s important, that’s why Joshua, Jesus, Yahweh-saves is such a significant name...

“The name that is above every name... at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God that Father”

Philippians 2.10