1 January 2009: The Holy Name

The Holy Name or Circumcision of our Lord

Genesis 17:1-13
Luke 2:15-21

For the Jewish people, the eighth day after birth was the day upon which the child was circumcised, and was given his name. Jesus received his name which was Yeshua in Aramaic (the language he spoke) and Yehoshua in Hebrew. Both names indicate the same thing, Yah Shua or Yeho shua, God saves. Indeed Jesus’s very name proclaimed his mission, which was to save the whole world. It is important that we catch the fullness of this word, save. Miles Coverdale, in his translation of the scriptures uses the word heal consistently to translate this word. It is not a case of either or, but a case of both. The word implies salvation and the word implies healing. Perhaps a better way to translate the word is to be made whole. Jesus came into the world to establish true shalom, (peace, right relationship, blessing, and joy) between God and man, man and man, man and nature, and man and himself. To be truly whole, we must have right relationship with God, each other, nature and ourselves. This was the mission of Jesus, that we truly be made whole.

And Jesus begins this work through keeping the Law, being circumcised on the eighth day, his first blood shed for us and our salvation, because he had to complete the law in his life and death for us.

So let us with joy remember that Jesus saves us, heals us, and restores peace between man and God, man and others, man and nature and restores all things.


Emanuel, you who are with us, help us to remember that the name of Yeshua proclaims your salvation and healing, and through his finished work on the cross he completed his obedience to the law and the prophets began on this day, when he first shed blood in obedience to the law. Help us so to contemplate his holy name that we would truly accept that salvation, healing and wholeness and that our obedience to you would lead to salvation and healing of many: this we ask in the name of Yeshua haMoshiach, who took our nature upon himself to redeem it. Amen. (white)