The Season of Nativity – Circumcision & Naming of our Lord Jesus Christ (St. Luke 2:21)

In the name of God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen

On January 1, the Orthodox Church commemorates the circumcision and naming of Jesus, following what the Gospel of Luke tells us. St. Luke tells us that eight days following Jesus’ birth, He was circumcised and given the name Jesus. St. Luke’s description of the event is short, it is only one sentence, and provides a transition from the birth story to the reception of Jesus in the temple by Symeon:

And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”

Luke 2:21

Circumcision was performed on all Israelite males as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. The outward sign of circumcision was a reminder that God keeps His promises and that people should obey God (Genesis 17:9-14. See also Joshua 5:1-9). While St. Luke speaks about circumcision of the flesh, there are other references throughout the Scriptures to another circumcision, the circumcision of the heart. Toward the beginning of the book of Deuteronomy, God speaks to Moses about His authority and justice over all His people and speaks about the circumcision of the heart. In ancient Israel, the heart refers not only to the physical organ; but the heart is also considered the center of a person:

For this says the Lord to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest My wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Jeremiah 4:3-4 (Also read Deuteronomy 10:12-22, Leviticus 26:41)

While Christians do not have to undergo physical circumcision in order to be members of the body of Christ, an issue which was debated in the epistles of St. Paul (for example, read the letter of St. Paul to Galatians), we are to be circumcised of heart. Through the baptism, we not only become members of the body of Christ but also we become one with Christ in His birth, life, death and resurrection. Through our death in baptism, we circumcise our hearts to the Lord.

Also, in the short passage from the gospel of St. Luke, Jesus was given His name. In the ancient world, naming generally took place on the eighth day after the birth of a child, and this was equated with accepting the child as one’s own; in other words, the child actually came into being when s/he was given their name. Likewise, to have ones’ name blotted out or destroyed was as if the person no longer existed. This is why in the Old Testament there was a strict taboo against profaning the name of the Lord, because in doing so they were profaning the Lord Himself (Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 24:11, Deuteronomy 5:11). Names also referred to one’s status or place in the community and society, and the changing of a name meant a change in status or function within the community.

We have numerous examples throughout the Scriptures of name changes. In Genesis 17, God told His servant Abram that he would be the father of many nations and promised to make His covenant with Abram. As a sign of this covenant, God changed the name of Abram to Abraham, the father of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:1-6). Likewise, Abraham’s wife had a name changed from Sarai to Sarah after she found out in her old age that she would bear the child Isaac. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel after he wrestled with the angel of the Lord (Genesis 32:28). In the New Testament, Saul the Pharisee, who persecuted Christians and assisted with the stoning of Stephen, had his name changed from Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9).

While reading the birth stories, we come to know that Jesus has many names attributed to Him, such as Christ (Matthew 1:1), Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23), King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2), Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32), Son of God (Luke 1:35), Savior (Luke 2:11) and Lord (Luke 2:11). He also has other names, such as Rabbi (John 1:49), Son of Man (Mark 9:31) and Son of David (Matthew 9:27).

The Book of Acts of the Apostles show that the early Christian believers used the name of Jesus to perform miracles and cast out demons (Acts 3:6; 4:12. Also Mark 16:17). Furthermore, it was in the name of Jesus that people were baptized for the remission of sins and for entrance into the Christian community (Acts 2:38-39). Jesus’ name also incurred power and might, even among the demons of this world:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that 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, the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Finally, we know that the early Christian community specifically used Jesus’ name in prayer. Such a prayer is still is in use today and is known as the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner”. This prayer is said multiple times in our liturgy as well: Kurielison. This prayer came about after understanding Jesus’ specific commandments on prayer, such as

Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, He will give it to you in My name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in My name, ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:23-24

Earlier in the same Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples,

Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son, if you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:14

Furthermore, Jesus Himself gave us the Lord’s Prayer which we recite daily and during the divine services. The Lord’s Prayer invokes the name of God as Father:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4

Jesus gave His disciples a powerful statement concerning prayer. A primary role for His followers is to ask or petition the Father. In the Orthodox Christian liturgical tradition, we conclude our prayers with the benediction, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers for the living, the departed, the sick and the suffering, for peace, for president/rulers and congress/parliaments, for the armed forces are all prayed for in the name of Jesus and His Father and the life-giving Spirit. Apostle Paul says that we are called to pray each and every day: “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mysteries of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

While Christians are not required to undergo circumcision for religious purposes, we are called to be circumcised of heart, continually living out our life of repentance which we are reminded of at every Church service. Furthermore, our prayer for repentance is always prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, God the Father and the life giving Spirit. The biblical God makes Himself known to us through His Son Jesus, and therefore, we call on Him through the name of His Son.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, let us circumcise our hearts and dedicate ourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

Source: Prepare O Bethlehem written by William C. Mills