The Reasons for Everything We Do in the New Year

Rev. George Ferch

Dearly loved by God in Christ,

Soon after our babies are born we bring them to the baptismal font. God commands us to baptize our children. As the pastor baptizes the child, he speaks the child’s name. Last year six sets of parents saw to it that their sons or daughters received faith and the forgiveness of sins through this “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5.

Eight days after the eternal Son of God was born in Bethlehem Mary and Joseph had the rabbi fulfill the law. He circumcised the little boy. His parents named their son. Mary and Joseph had reasons for their actions. God commanded that all male children be circumcised at eight days old. God commanded them through Gabriel, his messenger, to name their biological and legal son Joshua, Jesus in Greek, which means “the one who saves.”

These two things-Jesus’ circumcision and his name are The Reasons for Everything We Do in the New Year. In our words; in our actions; in our resolutions.

1. What took place that night silent night, holy night in Bethlehem? Paul tells us in Galatians 4:4, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Jesus had to fulfill the law. One of the things he had to do then was to submit to circumcision. This was one action in his active obedience of fulfilling God’s commands as our Substitute. Jesus’ circumcision is also one act of his passive obedience as he first sheds his holy blood for us under the rabbi’s knife.

These actions are consistent with the meaning of his name, the one who saves, Joshua. Recall that Joshua took over from Moses after the 40 years of wandering in the desert. Joshua saved the people from the wilderness. He led them across the Jordan River and into the land first promised to Abraham. Jesus saved us from our sins. He leads us safely across the river of death into the Promised Land of eternal life with him at the Father’s right hand in heaven. Jesus is my Redeemer.

Our faith is not merely a faith for that future. Luther puts it well in his explanation to the second article of the Apostles’ Creed. Jesus redeemed me a lost and condemned creature-think his circumcision and name-as the reasons for everything we do in the New Year, “All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness…” I serve Christ in righteous since I am covered with his blood. I serve Christ in innocence as I hate sin and desire to do God’s will. I serve Christ in blessedness as I give thanks in faith born love.

The apostle lists some of that service to one another in the New Year in our words: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” The Word of Christ is the gospel-Jesus’ circumcision and name. Those are the reasons we teach one another for growth in knowledge and the strengthening of faith. We admonish one another with love when necessary and heed loving correction. Jesus’ circumcision and name are the reasons we sing praises to God together in public worship or in private. I think about times I and others have used the hymnal in hospital visits or with someone near death or for offering comfort in a home at a time of tragedy.

This speaking takes places among family members, and among congregation members. It takes place with our friends as well as our enemies. Whatever we do in word, we do it all “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

2. Jesus kept the law for us and shed his blood for us as an eight day old child so that we also have reasons in the New Year for everything we do in our actions. Listen again to the apostle, “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Here is what to do in the New Year when you act. Act from the love of God in Christ. Act from the forgiveness God has had for you. Out from under that cloak of love and forgiveness come compassion rather than apathy; kindness rather than harm; humility instead of pride; gentleness instead of harshness; patience and not frustration. There will be grievances we have against one another in the New Year. Forgive them and do not seek revenge. We do those things in Jesus’ name and under Jesus’ blood. Those treasures are ours through Holy Baptism.

3. Our text is part of a longer section on sanctified living. New Year’s Day is the first day of our resolutions. Resolutions are the starting line for changes. When it comes to our striving to live a godly life in service to Christ, rather than thinking, “Oh what’s the use,” in the renewing of our minds we seek those virtues and put them in practice in our actions. We resolve that whatever we do in word or deed, to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus

We have the power to change. It is the power of Christ’s obedience to the law and the shedding of his holy blood. It is the power of the gospel. The Word of Christ is to dwell in me richly not only so I am saved. It also is to dwell in me richly so that I say no to the sins in my life by being self controlled.

It is Jesus’ active and passive obedience that have removed our guilt. They are our power over temptation and sin. That little boy under the rabbi’s knife in his great obedience and love for us moves us to greater obedience in love and thankfulness to him our Savior. They are the reasons for everything we do in the New Year. Amen. <SDG>