Devotional for New Year’s Day(The Eighth Day of Christmas — The Circumcision of Our Lord)

Devotional for New Year’s Day
(The Eighth Day of Christmas — The Circumcision of Our Lord)

Verse
Psalm 8:4–5 (ESV)
“What is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.”

Meditation
The eighth day of Christmas brings us to a holy and solemn moment. The child born of Mary now submits to the Law. On this day, Jesus is circumcised and given the name spoken by the angel before His conception. Psalm 8 teaches us to marvel at God’s care for humanity, and here that care is made visible. The eternal Son does not stand above our condition; He enters it fully, bearing in His own flesh the sign of the covenant.

Numbers reminds us that God’s name is not distant or abstract. The LORD places His name upon His people as a blessing, a promise of presence and peace. On this day, the name of Jesus is spoken over the child, and with that name comes salvation. The Law that once marked Israel now points to the One who fulfills it perfectly.

Galatians declares the meaning of this obedience for us. We are no longer imprisoned under the Law, but clothed with Christ. In Him, distinctions that divide humanity lose their power. All who are baptized into Christ belong to Him and share in the promise. The circumcision of Jesus looks forward to the cross, where He will shed His blood for the redemption of all, and to baptism, where His name is placed upon us.

The new year begins not with human resolve, but with divine mercy. Christ enters the Law to free us from it. He bears the covenant so that we may bear His name forever.

New Testament Verse
Galatians 3:27–28 (ESV)
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Old Testament Verse
Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Collect
Almighty God, who on the eighth day caused Your Son to be circumcised and named Jesus for our salvation, grant that we who bear His name may trust in His obedience, live in the blessing You have placed upon us, and begin this new year confident in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn Verse
Jesus, name of wondrous love,
Name all other names above,
Name at which must every knee
Bow in deep humility.

(“Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love” — Bernard of Clairvaux; public domain)