Today is celebrated by
the church as the Circumcision of Christ, or The Holy Name. Both names are important to us. This is eight
days after Christmas. All good Jewish
boys were circumcised eight days after their birth. This is the first time that Jesus, or Yeshua
sacrifices his blood in order to complete the law. He spent the rest of his life obeying the Law
perfectly, so that he could be a pure lamb without blemish, which could be
sacrificed for our sins.
Secondly, the Holy
Name. Yeshua (Jesus in Aramaic) from
Hebrew, Yah Shua means, “God Saves.” It
is very important that as Christians we understand the full significance of
this name. Shua is much more than “save”
as we understand the word. Wycliff in
his translation of the Bible translated it as heal. Jesus the healer, Jesus died to heal us. Wycliff was not in error. The word means heal just as much as it means
saved. The word implies that we are made
completely whole, body, mind and spirit.
We are saved from death, from hell and from sickness of body, mind or
spirit. To be made whole, we are also
saved or made whole for this life here on earth. When we have been saved or healed, we begin
the process of sanctification, in which we become holy people. God peals us like an onion removing everything
that is not of him. Usually this is a
gradual process, although there are times when it can be all at once. As we submit our selves to God, asking him to
heal and purify us, we will usually find another problem waiting to be
solved. True saints are always aware how
sinful they are.
As we submit ourselves
more and more to God, and he heals us, from infirmities, disease, addictions,
bad attitudes, sin, we experience shalom.
Shalom is like shua. It is not
just peace as the world defines peace. Shalom
is peace with nature, peace with God, peace with society, peace with
ourselves. Peace in good times, peace in
bad.
So every time we
pronounce the name of Yeshua, let us truly think about the salvation he gives
us.
Collect: : 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. 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 lives and governs with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory
everlasting. Amen.
Psalm 8;
Exodus 34:1-8; Romans 1:1-7; Luke 2:15-21
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