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January 9 Daily Devotional

Fulfilling the Law

Frans Bakker

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child....—Luke 2:21a

Bible Reading

Luke 2:21–24

Devotional

The Christ-Child was circumcised. God wanted this to happen. The Son of God had to come under the law and that implied He was under the obligation to fulfill the law. This is depicted in circumcision. He had to show full obedience to the law to pay the penalty of the law. The penalty of the law was blood. Blood had to flow as a payment to God for breaking His laws. That is why blood had to be shed in the circumcision of Christ. Here in this act, He sheds His blood. In His death He was the Surety. But He was already Surety in His birth. It was for that purpose that He gave Himself.

Joseph and Mary are not the ones who subject Him to this sign. He yields Himself to it. In His everlasting love for sinners He Himself desires that sign. To be Surety for His people, from His birth on, He was not permitted to belong to the ninety-nine “just” ones, who did not need repentance. They judge that they do not need the circumcision of their heart. Christ was not to be like them. That is why He had to be circumcised on the eighth day. He confessed that He was born under the law, and under the sins and guilt of His people.

How great Christ is here in His humiliation! How necessary He is! We cannot live without Him. We need grace to show us our poverty in order to assess the true value of Christ. Those who now must complain with David about the vileness of their own birth may hear the proclamation that there is a means to be washed from their sins. That washing happens by means of His blood. His circumcision confirms that He shed His blood as a payment for sin.

His circumcision also confirms that the Son of God truly descended in the flesh. Man is born in sin. Jesus will be your Mediator if you know and acknowledge your unrighteousness. Or do you still belong to the “ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7)? Then this Child means nothing to you.

It was a privilege to be circumcised because this sign of the covenant entailed that one was under God’s special care. That same privilege is also applicable to baptism that takes the place of circumcision. What a privilege to be under God’s care and to be in His covenant! But, oh, who can keep this covenant? One incurs a double guilt if he perishes under such covenant privileges. He who knows himself as a covenant-breaker experiences something of this reality. But now the circumcision of Christ provides everlasting significance for him who rightly accuses himself of being a covenant-breaker. In His circumcision Christ has shown that He is now on his side. At the same time, because of the payment of His blood, He is on God’s side. What a perfect Surety He is for His church!

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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