Day 90 - Issue 43
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Luke 2:21
'Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.'
Three ceremonies took place after the birth of Jesus, just as they did for every Jewish baby boy. Firstly, he was circumcised. This practice dates right back to the time of Abraham and was a sign of the covenant between God and his people. It was absolutely essential for every Jewish boy to be circumcised. A failure to do so was believed to lead to the extinction of the soul and the denial of a share in the life to come. It was such an important ceremony that it could take place on any day of the week, including the Sabbath.
Secondly, the Jews believed that every firstborn male, whether human or cattle, was sacred to God. They belonged to him and so needed to be bought back at a price. This cost five shekels and could not be paid sooner than 31 days after the birth of the child.
The third ceremony was the purification of the mother. In Jewish law, a woman who had given birth to a boy was ritually unclean for 40 days. If she gave birth to a girl, she was unclean for 80 days. At the end of this time, the mother would present a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin offering to God. This was reasonably expensive and so, if the parents had limited means, they were able to bring two pigeons (known as the offering of the poor). The fact that Mary brought two pigeons as her offering is a clear indication of the poverty that Jesus was born into and would have experienced as a child.
These ceremonies may seem very strange to us but they underline the fact that children are a precious gift from God. The responsibility to care for a child is a privilege which needs God’s constant strength and guidance.
Question: Why do you think it was necessary for Jesus, the Son of God, to go through these ceremonies?
Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for the gift of children. I pray today for all parents asking that they will reach out to you and find your strength. Amen
Released on 29 Dec 2022
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