A CONTRACT,  A TESTAMENT MUST BE  HONOURED

It is written in Genesis (17: 9 -11), that God told Abraham and his seed, that they must honour their commitment; namely that every male must be circumcised. This was simply a symbol of the Contract, of the Testament made between God and Abraham, and it had to be performed on the eight day of birth.

So, Circumcision was a sign, a token of membership in the body of Israel, because being born of Jewish parents did not give you the right of forming part of the ‘Chosen People’. Because the person being circumcised was considered to be a sinner, therefore Baby Jesus started shedding blood for me and for you, because He has taken our place as sinners. Mind you, not because we were Jews, but because we form part of the ‘Chosen People’.

Historically the Jews were the ‘Chosen People’ but we all know what happened. Today, you and I, and all those that believe and follow the Teachings of Jesus Christ, form part of the ‘Chosen People’. In fact Circumcision was a prefigurement of Baptism in the New Testament, and both symbolize the renunciation of the flesh with its sins.

Circumcision incorporates the child by the wounding of the body. Baptism incorporates the baptized by cleansing the soul and incorporates the baptized  into the body of the New Israel, or the Church. By submitting to this rite, though He did not need to as He was sinless, the Son of God, as man, satisfied the demands of His nation, just as He followed the rest of the other laws and Jewish regulations.

He observed the Passover; respected the day of Sabbath; He took part in all the Feasts during the year. The Old Law was observed until the time came for Him to fulfill its shadowy prefigurements. At he age of eight days, Jesus started the blood-shedding, His cradle was tinged with crimson, a token of Calvary; a long ‘bloody’ pilgrimage from Betlehem to Colgotha. Circumcision reflected Calvary.

Mary gave us her son; a clean, pinky flesh coloured baby, and we gave her back her son covered with blood, tortured and dead. Did it ever cross your mind, Mary, sitting down, holding that bundle of joy, which you often covered with kisses, that one day He will be again in your arms, only as a corpse, this time covered with spitting and dirt. That is the redemption of your investment when you declared: ”Be it done according to Your Will.”

That was a huge price You paid for my redemption, Jesus, and no amount of ‘Thank You’s  would suffice to show my appreciation. All you ask of me is to take up my cross and follow You, trusting in Your help.