True Circumcision
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.” (Luke 2:21)
Jesus was born in the Israelite culture that circumcised male children on the eight day, and that redeemed every first born male with a special offering in the temple. All these customs were followed by Jesus’ parents, including later regular Sabbath attendance and pilgrimages to Jerusalem on appointed feast days. Jesus in his teachings later clarified that he had not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). So, in the context of fulfilling the Law, it is important to ask the question, ‘what is true circumcision?’ In fact this question was already rife when some prophets preached (like in Jer 9:25-26), and the concept of circumcision of the heart was not already penned in the Holy Scriptures.
On 26 Dec we celebrated St. Stephen’s Day, and remembered his last sermon; he concluded it by lashing out at his opposition Jews: ‘You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!’ (Acts 7:51) He had built his case by quoting how Moses was resisted by the very people he had gone to liberate from slavery; many more prophets were resisted and others even killed by the Jews among whom they preached; John the Baptist, after preparing the way for the Messiah, was even beheaded! And Jesus, by the same Jews he had come to save, was crucified! Stephen’s description of these prophet-killers was that their hearts and ears were still uncircumcised. Clearly, literal circumcision in the flesh is not enough; it may bring a physical identity into a culture, but the ultimate purpose of being in covenant relationship with God cannot be achieved by the mere outward sign.
This is true with all types of outward signs of our present day – like Church Attendance, Baptism, Confirmation, Wedding, or even Ordination. Paul gives a clear summary of what the reality is:
“Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God.” (Rom 2:25, 28-29)
In this Year 2018, do not waste time in hypocritical outward showy things. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Relate with God with all your heart – for he sees every detail and cannot be mocked. A decision to follow Jesus must be both outwardly declared and inwardly lived and maintained with a heart obedient to the Gospel.
God bless you all. Happy New Year!