At 8 days old, all Jewish boys are circumcised. As a sign of their covenant with God (Genesis 17:11-13), so it was with Jesus. The significant difference with Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist was their naming. Luke makes an explicit connection between naming and circumcision in the cases of both John the Baptist (Luke 1:59) and Jesus (Luke 2:21). Both had their names chosen by God, before they were even conceived. So at their naming, the names were unexpected by those who didn't know of the anglic visitations.

His name Yeshua, a very common name among Jews in antiquity, means “The Lord (Yah) saves. “Jesus” is the Greek (and Latin) form of the Hebrew name. His name chosen by God, recorded in the announcement to Joseph (Matthew 1:21). Its significance was evident to Jewish Christians, to those who heard Him preach salvation. In fulfilment of the psalmist’s promise (Psalm 130:8); our relationship with God will be restored. It was expected the Davidic messiah would establish a “holy people”; Matthew makes the links of Jesus to the line of David very clear. The Jews expected the Messiah to save them from Roman occupation, God's son came to save them from sin.

The feast we know as The Naming of Jesus began as the Feast of the Circumcision, celebrated one week, i.e., on the 8th day, after Christmas Day. It appears to have originated in the 6th century and spread gradually throughout the church.

Hanukkah - The Festival of Lights

This is the 8th and last Night of Hanukkah the Jewish Festival of Lights. Recite the two Blessings and light all nine candles tonight. I want to share a word from author Yanki Tauber based on the teachings of the Rebbe (a famous Jewish Rabbi).

We are encouraged by the fact that a tiny flame can banish a roomful of darkness. If so, all is not lost. If our own souls are "candles of G‑d" (as King Solomon proclaims in the Book of Proverbs), then little me is not so little after all. The big bad world out there can yet be transformed. All we need to do is be what we truly are, to act out our innate goodness, and the darkness will melt away.

Once a year, we celebrate this truth. For eight days and nights, we celebrate the power of light: in ascending number — one little flame on the first evening, two flames on the second, three on the third — we kindle the Chanukah menorah, recalling that miraculous victory, 22 centuries ago, of quality over quantity, spirit over materialism, right over might. And pray for the day when such victories are no longer "miracles", but the way things are in G-d's world.

Tonight when you light the candles give thanks and praise to God for all his miracles.