Devotion for the Eighth Day of Christmas (The Circumcision of Christ)

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.”

When they had performed everything according to the
Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The
Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace
of God was upon Him. ~ Luke 2:21-24, 39-40

Even though Jesus is the Lord, His earthly parents followed everything that was required of them as faithful Jews. Jesus was named and circumcised on the eighth day, fully obedient. Circumcision to the Jews, like baptism for Christians, brings the person into the family of God. Jesus did not need to do anything—after all, He is God, but He did everything that was required on our behalf.

Thank You, Lord, that Jesus was obedient to the Law on my behalf and that He has given me eternal life. Make me obedient to Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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