If
Jesus’ Birthday Really is December 25th, Then Today (January 2) is a
Special Day
If Jesus’ birthday really is December 25th,
(which it very possibly isn’t) then today, January 2, is another day to
commemorate regarding His life. Today would be the day when Joseph and Mary
would have had little eight-day old Jesus circumcised and His name would have
been officially recorded.
One passage in the Bible tells of this occasion. “And
when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was
called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb”
(Luke 2:21 NKJV).
Joseph and Mary were following the instructions God had
given Abraham nearly 500 years earlier. The origination of the Covenant of
Circumcision is recorded in Genesis 16:12.
In my children’s book, His Name Is Jesus, I
wrote of this event. I’m sure you wonder how a children’s book could be written
about Jesus’ circumcision. I asked God that same question when I felt lead to
take on the task. He answered my prayer beautifully.
In His Name Is Jesus I tell of a
special ceremony that took place when Jesus was eight days old. My focus is on
His name and how God sent the angel, Gabriel, to Mary and to Joseph to
pronounce His birth and what His name was to be.
In the First Century, the parents of an eight-day old boy
would have a rabbi, or other qualified religious leader, come to their home or
they would take their son to that man’s home, for the ceremony. Because of
their lower social standing, Joseph and Mary probably took Jesus to the
person’s home.
In my book, Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the home of a
rabbi named Jonathan. I describe the occasion this way:
“The rabbi performed the rite called Bris Milah and asked
Joseph for the name of the baby.
“’His name is Jesus,’ was Joseph’s reply. Joseph and Mary smiled at one another.
From "His Name is Jesus," by Connie Wohlford |
“’His name is Jesus,’ was Joseph’s reply. Joseph and Mary smiled at one another.
“When Rabbi Jonathan looked at the face of this little
baby Jewish boy, what did he see? He saw the face of a little baby Jewish boy,
just as he had seen many times before and would see many more times in the
future. He was clueless to the fact that before him lay his own Messiah, the
Son of the Covenant, the literal Son of Yahweh, Who created heaven and earth.
If he had known that here lies the King of kings and the LORD of lords, likely
he would have been completely undone.
“But no, to him, this was one of many baby boys that he
would encounter as a rabbi Moleh, who is one who performs the Halakah ceremony.
From "His Name Is Jesus," by Connie Wohlford |
“Afterwards, the rabbi’s secretary asked Mary and Joseph each for the names of their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, as well as where they were all from …”
I hope you were blessed by reading the Bible account, from Luke, and my expanded narrative of Jesus’ eight-day old experience.
From "His Name Is Jesus," by Connie Wohlford
|
If you’re interested in purchasing the book, His
Name Is Jesus, or any of my books, please contact me via email for additional
information. author@conniewohlford.com
Your comments are welcome.
*His Name Is Jesus, by Connie
Wohlford, Copyright 2013, pages 12-13.
©Copyright
2019 Connie Wohlford
Connie,
ReplyDeleteI get excited when I learn something new in the Bible. I remembering reading about circumcision on the 8th day, but not about the naming ceremony. How interesting! And what a sweet children's book.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy New Year!
Me too, Beckie! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for your nice comment.
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