Day 24 Luke 2:21
23 Dec 2023
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“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
As we conclude our 24 days going through the opening section of Luke we come to this verse. It might seem a little bit of an anti climax after the excitement of angels and baby’s being born. However, it is a vital summary statement by Luke, and it picks up on some important themes in the chapters so far.
Luke is often described as the gospel for the gentiles, and it is true that he seems to particularly draw attention to the times when Jesus spoke to the outsiders and outcasts. However this doesn’t mean he is saying that Jesus is a new start. Just like the other gospel writers, Luke emphasises how Jesus’ coming is part of God’s plan stretching from eternity past and brought to fruition within history through the covenant he has made with Abraham.
That is emphasised in this verse. Like all Jewish baby boys Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (remember we were told about John being circumcised back in chapter 1). Jesus was “born of a woman born under the law”. He perfectly fulfils every aspect of God’s law in his body. This is an important part of him being a perfect Saviour. He lives the perfect life which we have not lived. This means that when we are united to him by faith we can be sure we receive his perfect righteousness.
At the circumcision he is also named. He is called “Jesus” just as Gabriel told Mary. The name that literally means “Saviour”. This is not a name given by Joseph and Mary to project their hopes and desires for him. Nor is it a name which carries on their family name. No - it is a name already given in eternity. God has planned to send his son to save and call him Jesus. Nothing is left to chance.
This draws Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus to an end. But of course we must not leave Jesus here, as a baby. Luke wants us to have “certainty concerning the things we have been taught”. And so that must mean we continue to read and take in all he will go on to say about Jesus public ministry, death, resurrection and then (in acts) his exaltation and ministry through his apostles.
But don’t so rush on that we forget to “ponder” the wonder of the incarnation. It is not simply the prologue. There is amazement here. God has entered our world that we might enter his. God has so humbled himself that he does not spurn even a virgins womb, or a manger in the middle of an ordinary household. God will stop at nothing to save us. He really is “Jesus” - our Saviour. Hallelujah.