October 28 Daily Devotional

Sacrifice for Sin

Charles and Norma Ellis

Bible Reading:

Luke 2:21-24

²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
²³(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Devotional:

Jesus was fully man. He was in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3). He was born of a woman, born under the law, sent to redeem them that were under the law (Galatians 4:4). He fulfilled all righteousness (Matthew 3:15) and performed all the obligations of the law. This is why He was circumcised.

The rules concerning circumcision and purification were reminders of the sin inherent in every child who is born. When a sacrifice was offered for Jesus, He, although Himself without sin, was placing Himself voluntarily under the law as part of His identification with the people whom He came to save.

Luke, the physician-historian, gives us the details of this event because of their larger significance. Mary was ceremonially unclean for forty days and her baby with her. Now it was the custom to bring to the temple a sacrifice for cleansing. So a lamb and a pigeon, or in cases of poverty two pigeons, were offered in place of the one who was sacrificing. This was symbolic of the acknowledgement of guilt before God: 'The wages of sin is death'! (Romans 6:23).

O God, thank You for sending Your Son and causing Him to be willing to take on the likeness of our sinful nature. Thank You for causing Him later to be a sacrifice for us Your people. Thank You for Your Book that makes it all so plain!

We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."

Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.

Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.