His Name was Called Jesus - Luke 2:21

Luke the physician wrote how an angel and a heavenly host appeared to shepherds to tell them of the Messiah's birth, and “as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-one of his book Luke shares, “when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS” where we read:

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The verse reads, “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when eight days were accomplished” or “and at the time and moment that eight sunrises to sunsets were fulfilled and completed” “for the circumcising” which means “that the cutting off of the prepuce which was a well known rite by which not only the male children of the Israelites, on the eighth day after birth, but subsequently also "proselytes of righteousness" were consecrated to Jehovah and introduced into the number of his people” “of the child” or “belonging to the male son of Joseph and Mary”. Luke shared how “eight days” passed from the moment Jesus was born, and it was time for the rite of “circumcision” to be carried out upon Him.

The verse goes on to say, “... his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Luke continued with the words, “his name was called” which means “the male child of Joseph and Mary was saluted and known as” “Jesus” which means “Jehovah is Salvation”, “which was so named” which means “that was thus surnamed” “of the angel” or “by the messenger and envoy sent to Mary” “before he was conceived in the womb” which means “in advance of Jesus being aided and captured within Mary's belly”. Luke shared how Joseph and Mary “named” their son “JESUS” even as they were instructed by the “angel” sent from God.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover the obedience of Joseph and Mary to comply with the law of Moses which directed Israelites to “circumcise” their male children on the “eighth day” after their birth. It was at this time they would reveal the “name” of their child, and Joseph and Mary called their Son “JESUS” even as they were instructed by the “angel”. God's Son was born, and He was to be the Christ and Messiah to the world who would save them from their sins. Those who believe and trust in Jesus may now have a relationship with God, and they are promised “everlasting life” with Him. God's plan of salvation was revealed in His Son's name, “Jesus” or “Jehovah is Salvation” was on the earth, and those who are wise will yield their lives to the only One who is able to completely save them from their sins.

Next time Luke shares how Joseph and Mary brought Jesus, “to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".