On January 14 the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord in fulfillment of the ancient law of God given to the people of Israel through Abraham.
God commanded to circumcise the foreskin of all male infants on the eighth day of birth. Through circumcision the baby entered into covenant with God, separating himself from other people and all uncleanness. Jesus Christ, like all Jewish boys, was circumcised. Thus, Christ confirmed the covenant that God made with Abraham.
Christ confirmed the covenant in order to change it. Now we are not circumcised in the flesh, we are circumcised in the spirit. We have a sacrament when evil, sin, lawlessness is cut off from our hearts. The sacrament is called spiritual circumcision, or baptism. It replaced ancient circumcision.
On the day of Circumcision the Lord accepts the name that was predicted to Joseph the Betrothed in a dream. This name is Jesus.
Jesus means God the Savior, the God Who came to save us from sin, curse and death.
Apostle Peter says, there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, except by the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
By the name of Jesus Christ we receive salvation, justification, cleansing. It is by this name that we defeat our enemies.It is by this name that we crush the demons.
We, Christians, must learn how to call on the sweetest name of Jesus Christ as often as possible, so that through this name God will sanctify us and we glorify Him.