January 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 2:21–24

Devotional

Circumcision was a privilege for the Israelite. It was also their calling and their shame. It was a privilege for them to be circumcised because it was the sign of God’s covenant. By this covenant Israel was distinguished from the Gentiles. By means of this sign, God united Himself to His people. He affirmed that descendants of Abraham who were circumcised lived under God’s revelation. What a great privilege! For, after all, an Israelite was by birth no better than any Gentile; he also was conceived and born in sin.

Circumcision was also a calling. God desired it as a sign. That sign showed the necessity of purification. It referred to the origin of the generations. This sign had everything to do with the existence and continuation of the human race. It focused on the organ that carried the seed that produced depraved sinners. Circumcision was symbolic of the cutting away of sin and of subsequent cleansing. It was a sign of God’s covenant with His people. The Lamb of God came to take away sins and make people right with God.

Circumcision was also a shame. It is a shame because it was a sign that all newborn human beings are fallen creatures. Even before he could talk, think, or commit actual sins, the sign of shame had to be applied to the creature. We are a corrupt human generation. We are born in shame. We do not sin because we follow bad examples, but uncleanness is present in us before we commit one sin.

Were Joseph and Mary mistaken then when they had their Child circumcised on the eighth day? Does this pure Child need the sign of shame? Is it not a terrible humiliation for this Child to be laid under the knife as if He was as unclean as others who were born into this world? Admittedly it is a deep humiliation that this Child must be subjected to the same ritual required for sinful people. Still, Joseph and Mary were not mistaken in doing this, for they were not the ones who gave this sign to this Child. God the Father Himself caused the Surety to be born into this world and subjected Him to that sign. The Christ-Child is born under God’s law to fulfill it. He had to do this as the Substitute of His people, for they bore that sign of subjection to God’s law. To be their Surety, He had to stand in their place, even from His very first beginnings on earth. This ensured that man’s sins would be added to His account.

 

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.