If Jesus’ Birthday Really is December 25th, Then Today (January 2) is a Special Day

If Jesus’ Birthday Really is December 25^th, Then Today (January 2) is a Special Day

If Jesus’ birthday really is December 25^th, (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.

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

More Lasting Than Gold

More Lasting Than Gold                                 

1 Peter 1:5-9

Gold is a precious metal, can be purified with fire, resists corrosion, and is almost impossible to destroy. Peter compares our faith in Christ to gold.

In my recent posts (June 6 and June 28) we looked at the living hope we have through Jesus’ resurrection and we rejoiced in the incorruptible inheritance reserved for us in Heaven. Praise the Lord, we are “kept by the power of God through our faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time” even though we are grieved by various trials until that day arrives (1 Peter 1:3-6).

Pertaining to trials Peter compares our faith to gold: “… though now for a little while, if need be you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6b-7).

In comparing faith to gold, Peter states that one’s faith is more precious than gold—even gold that has been purified by fire.

In the first century, gold was considered the most precious of metals and still today is known to have the highest corrosion resistance of all metals. Peter says that compared to gold, our faith is even more precious; is refined—purified—by fiery trials; resists corrosion; and is in fact incorruptible, therefore is eternal. He does qualify that, saying our faith must be genuine—that is, sincere or real. Let’s frequently examine the genuineness of our faith.  (I wrote a three part series of blog posts on this subject back in March 2017. You might enjoy reading those posts on the genuineness of our faith.) 

Bible scholar, Kenneth Wuest, described gold’s purifying process thus:
   “The picture here is of an ancient goldsmith who puts his crude gold ore in a crucible, subjects it to intense heat, and thus liquefies the mass. The impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed off. When the metalworker is able to see the reflection of his face clearly mirrored in the surface of the liquid, he takes it off the fire, for he knows that the contents are pure gold. So it is with God and His child. He puts us in the crucible of Christian suffering, in which process sin is gradually put out of our lives, our faith is purified from the slag of unbelief that somehow mingles with it so often, and the result is the reflection of the face of Jesus Christ in the character of the Christian. This, above all, God the Father desires to see. Christlikeness is God’s ideal for His child. Christian suffering is one of the most potent means to that end.”
“When we learn to submit our will to the will of God, in the midst of our sufferings, we will learn to say with Job, ‘When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold’ (Job 23:10).”


 “Trying times are not time to stop trying.”  Woodrow Kroll 

Now let’s put this back into the context of Peter’s point. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV).

So— because of our genuine faith in Jesus we rejoice greatly, even though we experience fiery trials which purify us in the end. And since we have such faith we are found praising, honoring and glorying at the revelation of Jesus, who we have not even seen in the flesh. Yet still we believe and rejoice with inexpressible joy, full of glory, receiving our ultimate end—the salvation of our souls.

With Peter and our brothers and sisters of the early church, let’s do this purposefully and be built up in our faith and hope and joy and endurance, anticipating the end of our faith—the salvation of our souls.

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford

3 Ways Bible Study Changed My Life

3 Ways Bible Study Changed My Life              

                                                                                 

Just a few days ago my fifteen year old grandson, Michael, asked, “Granny, how can someone really know for sure that they’re saved?”

That’s a heavy-duty question for this young man to come up with, but I was glad he did. I told him his question was very common and that I had wondered that myself in years past. I went on to tell him that the best way to be confident that we’re saved is to read and study our Bibles. 

In Scripture we can get to know God better—learn about His character and His unfailing love. Also, there are many scripture verses which express our eternal security. It’s truly life-changing to have this assurance about our destiny when we take our last breath.

Jesus said, “My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is about to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29 NKJV).

Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).

In addition to Scripture we have the Holy Spirit Himself, who resides in every believer, bearing witness to our own spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

I encouraged Michael to spend time getting to know his Heavenly Father better by digging into God’s Word and see if it will help him have more confidence in his Savior and the salvation he has received.

Hearing From God

Another question I’ve been asked deals with hearing from God. People say, “Why have I never heard God speak to me? People talk about hearing from God but He’s never said anything to me.”

My response: “Do you read and study your Bible?”

As best I recall, every time they answer, “No,” or “Not much.”

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned through in-depth Bible study is that through His Word, God speaks to me personally and specifically. I’m often amazed—not surprised—but amazed—when I’m reading or studying a passage of Scripture and it applies directly to something going on in my life at that moment.

An example that comes to mind is when I bought a dress from a friend. We agreed on a price and she handed over the dress and said, “You can give me the money whenever—no rush.”

Two or three weeks went by and one morning, while studying in Proverbs God spoke to me and said, “You need to give Dianne the money for the dress.”

I didn’t hear an audible voice but the Holy Spirit spoke very clearly to my spirit. I knew, without doubting, that God was speaking to me.

“What was the passage?” you might ask. Here it is: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand” (Proverbs 3:27 NKJV).

When I read this I instantly knew I needed to pay that debt sooner rather than later. I had the money but a convenient time had simply not arisen. The situation could have dragged on for weeks but I was not to let that happen. I gave Dianne her money within a couple days and told her how the Lord had spoken to me about it. She got her money and was blessed by my testimony regarding the situation.

This was a very simple situation regarding a relatively insignificant matter but it was a great experience for me. It occurred many years ago and was one of the first occasions when God spoke clearly and directly through His Word to me concerning a specific matter in my life. I’ll never forget it. 

 He has spoken to me many times through His Word about life-changing matters as well as simple day to day issues.

Our Creator knows each of us better than we know ourselves and He knows what’s best—what we should say and do and where we should go. Possibly His favorite method of talking to us is through His Word. I’ve learned this by experience. If this has not been your experience, I highly recommend you give it a try. I believe you’ll be blessed, surprised and thrilled by the mysteries revealed, directions laid out, and encouragement given by our omniscient Heavenly Father through His own words to you.

Knowing the Father and Knowing Ourselves

A third way Bible study has changed my life is that it has helped me overcome insecurity. The belief that I was inferior to everyone around me plagued me much of my life. But there was something about getting to know my Heavenly Father and Jesus, my Savior, through His Word that lifted me out of the fear, discouragements and other negatives characteristic of being insecure.

To anyone who wants to be the best they can be and live the abundant life God desires for each of us, I say, “Get into Bible study! Get to know your Creator well. Taste and see that the Lord is oh so good.”

As a comment, below, please share how Bible study has benefited you or changed your life.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford