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The Circumcision and Naming of Our Lord (New Year’s Day) – January 1^st, 2024 Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas Rev. Joshua Woelmer Text: Luke 2:21 “New Name, New Identity, New Year” Theme: God gives you a new name, that of His Son, so that your sin does not identify you. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Names are very important to our human existence. Each of you probably has at least three names by which you are known. You might also have a nickname that your closest friends call you. Some of them can come from weird sources, usually from the joking of other guys. One of my friends from high school was given the name “fisheggs” by his friends because someone mispronounced Travis as traviar, then that became caviar, and then fisheggs. Crazier things have happened. Whether they are nicknames or your given birth name, they tell everyone else about you, either what friends you have or what family you have. Your last name is your family name. It says something either about your father or about your husband. Women, of course, if they get married, do get a name change. We should note that, actually. Names involve our identity. A woman who gets married changes her familial identity. She leaves her father’s house and is joined to a man and takes his name. She’s not the only one who gets a new identity. Her husband is no longer a sole man, but he has been joined to her. I do find it interesting that God describes marriage this way: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). However, women are the only ones to change their names to reflect the new identity that they both have. We should definitely note when people change their names in the Bible. It often involves a change of circumstances or promise. The most important ones happen to the patriarchs. Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah. Abram means “exalted father,” and Abraham means “father of many.” It is ironic at this point that Abraham is only the father of one, and that by a concubine. His name carries with it the promise that God has given him. Sarai means “my princess,” and Sarah means “princess.” She will no longer be just Abraham’s princess or lady, but rather the lady or princess without restriction. Later, Jacob will be given the name Israel, which means “He struggles with God” (Gen 32:28). Naomi changes her name out of grief from meaning pleasant to Mara, meaning “bitter” (Ruth 1:20). Jesus gives Simon the new name Cephas or Peter, corresponding to the Aramaic and Greek words for “rock” (John 1:42). Finally, one that we should also note is that Moses changes the name of a young spy from Hoshea meaning “salvation” to Joshua meaning “Yahweh saves” (Num 13:16). This name is important because it would also be given to God’s own Son. Like every Jew before him, Jesus went through the same process of naming. He was technically nameless for the first seven days of his life. But he was circumcised on the eighth day, and that is when his name was conferred upon him. He received the name that the angel Gabriel had told Joseph and Mary to give him. It is “Jesus,” which is the Greek version of Joshua. His name declares to us his purpose: He is God’s salvation for you. Contained in his name is so much for which we should be grateful. A change of name means a change of identity. What is in your name? Have you ever looked it up? Have you ever asked your parents why they chose that one? Was it the popular name of the day? Does it have biblical significance? Does it have familial significance? What if I told you that your name has changed, and not just the women out there who are married? Your name changed in your baptism. Why? Because your identity changed in baptism. Here’s how St. Paul describes it: “in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (26–27). If you received your earthly name when you were born and your parents gave you a personal and a familial name, then God has given you an even better name in those baptismal water. He has named you “Christian.” You have a new Father, and a new family. In fact, when early Christians were being persecuted, their torturers would ask for names. They were trained to give this answer: “I am a Christian.” That is the identity that truly matters for eternity in the face of persecution. It’s appropriate that we look at Baptism today, because it is the New Testament fulfillment of circumcision. We don’t need to get into all the details of circumcision, but it was clearly for boys to mark them as being members of God’s covenant to Abraham. Every time they did anything with that member, they would remember that they were different from everyone else in the world. Baptism does this for us as well, even if we cannot see the evidence of Baptism. St. Paul makes this connection between circumcision and baptism in Colossians 2: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (11–12). Baptism is also for every Christian, not just for Jewish boys. Gentiles and women are included in this covenant: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:28–29). Baptism marks you and sets you apart from everyone else in the world. God sees that mark. He sees his Name on you. He promises to protect you, for you are His. Your identity before God has changed from “sinner” to “God’s son” by faith. Strive against the old nature. Cut it off daily and reject its control over your actions. Accept your new name. Make it your own and strive to live in it. Know that you carry that name with you wherever you go. You are a “Christian” in good days and in bad. May this new year be one in which you appreciate that name even more and strive to live in it. It might sound weird, but I do like this connection between circumcision and baptism and the New Year. Celebrating a new year is celebrating the gifts that God gives to us: that they are new every morning and every year. Celebrating a new year is a rejection of the sin of the past. Celebrating a new year is an opportunity to look forward to the good things that God has in store for us. So, happy new year, and may it be a good one in your relationship with your Lord and Savior. Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. Return to Top \| Return to Sermons \| Home \| Email Church Office

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The Circumcision and Naming of Our Lord (New Year’s Day) – January 1^st, 2024

Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas

Rev. Joshua Woelmer

Text: Luke 2:21

“New Name, New Identity, New Year”

Theme: God gives you a new name, that of His Son, so that your sin does not identify you.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Names are very important to our human existence. Each of you probably has at least three names by which you are known. You might also have a nickname that your closest friends call you. Some of them can come from weird sources, usually from the joking of other guys. One of my friends from high school was given the name “fisheggs” by his friends because someone mispronounced Travis as traviar, then that became caviar, and then fisheggs. Crazier things have happened. Whether they are nicknames or your given birth name, they tell everyone else about you, either what friends you have or what family you have. Your last name is your family name. It says something either about your father or about your husband. Women, of course, if they get married, do get a name change. We should note that, actually.

Names involve our identity. A woman who gets married changes her familial identity. She leaves her father’s house and is joined to a man and takes his name. She’s not the only one who gets a new identity. Her husband is no longer a sole man, but he has been joined to her. I do find it interesting that God describes marriage this way: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). However, women are the only ones to change their names to reflect the new identity that they both have.

We should definitely note when people change their names in the Bible. It often involves a change of circumstances or promise. The most important ones happen to the patriarchs.

Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah. Abram means “exalted father,” and Abraham means “father of many.” It is ironic at this point that Abraham is only the father of one, and that by a concubine. His name carries with it the promise that God has given him. Sarai means “my princess,” and Sarah means “princess.” She will no longer be just Abraham’s princess or lady, but rather the lady or princess without restriction.

Later, Jacob will be given the name Israel, which means “He struggles with God” (Gen 32:28).

Naomi changes her name out of grief from meaning pleasant to Mara, meaning “bitter” (Ruth 1:20).

Jesus gives Simon the new name Cephas or Peter, corresponding to the Aramaic and Greek words for “rock” (John 1:42).

Finally, one that we should also note is that Moses changes the name of a young spy from Hoshea meaning “salvation” to Joshua meaning “Yahweh saves” (Num 13:16).

This name is important because it would also be given to God’s own Son. Like every Jew before him, Jesus went through the same process of naming. He was technically nameless for the first seven days of his life. But he was circumcised on the eighth day, and that is when his name was conferred upon him. He received the name that the angel Gabriel had told Joseph and Mary to give him. It is “Jesus,” which is the Greek version of Joshua. His name declares to us his purpose: He is God’s salvation for you. Contained in his name is so much for which we should be grateful.

A change of name means a change of identity. What is in your name? Have you ever looked it up? Have you ever asked your parents why they chose that one? Was it the popular name of the day? Does it have biblical significance? Does it have familial significance? What if I told you that your name has changed, and not just the women out there who are married?

Your name changed in your baptism. Why? Because your identity changed in baptism. Here’s how St. Paul describes it: “in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (26–27). If you received your earthly name when you were born and your parents gave you a personal and a familial name, then God has given you an even better name in those baptismal water.

He has named you “Christian.” You have a new Father, and a new family. In fact, when early Christians were being persecuted, their torturers would ask for names. They were trained to give this answer: “I am a Christian.” That is the identity that truly matters for eternity in the face of persecution.

It’s appropriate that we look at Baptism today, because it is the New Testament fulfillment of circumcision. We don’t need to get into all the details of circumcision, but it was clearly for boys to mark them as being members of God’s covenant to Abraham. Every time they did anything with that member, they would remember that they were different from everyone else in the world.

Baptism does this for us as well, even if we cannot see the evidence of Baptism. St. Paul makes this connection between circumcision and baptism in Colossians 2: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (11–12).

Baptism is also for every Christian, not just for Jewish boys. Gentiles and women are included in this covenant: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:28–29).

Baptism marks you and sets you apart from everyone else in the world. God sees that mark. He sees his Name on you. He promises to protect you, for you are His.

Your identity before God has changed from “sinner” to “God’s son” by faith. Strive against the old nature. Cut it off daily and reject its control over your actions. Accept your new name. Make it your own and strive to live in it. Know that you carry that name with you wherever you go. You are a “Christian” in good days and in bad. May this new year be one in which you appreciate that name even more and strive to live in it.

It might sound weird, but I do like this connection between circumcision and baptism and the New Year. Celebrating a new year is celebrating the gifts that God gives to us: that they are new every morning and every year. Celebrating a new year is a rejection of the sin of the past. Celebrating a new year is an opportunity to look forward to the good things that God has in store for us. So, happy new year, and may it be a good one in your relationship with your Lord and Savior.

Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

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