Today, we’ll go into ancient times and take a look at how children were viewed under Roman rule and why Jesus’ circumcision is an important detail not to skip over!

Yesterday, those who receive emails from the ministry got a blog devotional about the "science" behind Jesus being circumcised on Day 8. It was also yesterday's podcast. (Scroll down our podcast page and listen to Wed 12/21 or find Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download on your favorite podcast app and listen there. 80% of our listeners use Apple podcasts!)

Today, we continue where we began yesterday, taking notice of Luke 2:21 which says that He was officially named on the 8th day, the same day that he was circumcised. Big deal? Yes or no?

Turns out that detail is pretty interesting and very important! Let's look more closely at ancient culture to understand.

In the time of Jesus, the Romans ruled. And so we are to take note that Luke writes his account to Theophilus, Luke 1:3. He calls him “most excellent Theophilus”. In Roman culture, this implies a Roman title of respect and official importance. So we can make a strong assumption that Theophilus was an important Roman official. Luke also writes the book of Acts to Theophilus. See Acts 1:1. Luke is clear that his account is an orderly account, Luke 1:3.

In his Gospel account to Theophilus, Luke carefully includes the decree issued by Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. It is the reason Joseph and Mary go back to Bethlehem. They are to be “registered”. There is an official count happening of the entire world, Luke 2:1-5.

To understand this better, I'm referencing an exhaustive work written by a man name O M Bakke. It’s called “When Children became people- The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity”. In it, he explores theological and social history of Greco-Roman and early Christians towards abortion and child prostitution, pedagogy, moral upbringing, and their value within society. It is a shocking and insightful read, especially considering the direction our world is now heading, or should I say reverting to. I highly recommend it.

Related to birth, in the Roman way of life, Bakke notes the father was LEGALLY allowed to decide whether his newborn would live or die! Think of that in modern view. He was legally allowed to decide if the newborn would live or die after birth. He could do so within the first 8-9 days.

So if he accepted the child as a family member, they would hold a ritual known as a day of purification. It was on this day that a child was given its name and LEGALLY REGISTERED. The ceremony for boys was held on the 8th day, and the ceremony for girls was on the 9th day. Under Roman law, the ceremony marked the child's social birth, as compared to biological birth. Read these 2 pages from Bakke's book below.

​Pretty upsetting right?

With Roman rule in mind, re-read Luke 2:21 again-

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Luke is making it clear that Jesus was officially counted in a worldwide census! As a Roman official, Theophilus could check the record! Can you hear him ordering the Bethlehem census be brought to him?

And just think about this detail as it relates to the many arguments that Jesus never existed. "Jesus is a fictional figure. Jesus is a fairy tale." No. He was real and counted in Caesar Augustus' worldwide census! The promise of Good News for all was included in a worldwide census! The most important One to ever be counted and included in a census!

How awesome is it that we have this holy record! That Luke wrote his account to a Roman official, including significant details that validate Christ, not just under Jewish covenant of circumcision, but along with Roman mandate of legal registration! How awesome that he lets Theophilus know the words of the Angel to Mary…

Luke 1:31-33- 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

This might cause quite a stir within Theophilus don’t you think? If you were a highly influential government official today and received word of a king being born whose kingdom would have no end, would you take a closer look at the careful details shared about him?

May this stir you to notice the tiny details in scripture that maybe you gloss over, skip over, or dismiss off-handedly. Meditate on scripture. The revelation of Luke’s intent to highlight Jesus being officially registered came as a result of digging deeper and wrestling with scripture. Dig deeper to uncover the hidden treasure!!!

NEXT STEP: Consider how thousands of years before Roman rule of 8 days for males to be official and socially registered, God picked the 8th day for males to be circumcised. This brought them under the holy covenant given to Abraham and his descendants! Read about the covenant of circumcision in Genesis 17! As a believer, you are included under that covenant. How does it affect you? Do you know by memory what it includes before reading it again?

We are so blessed to live in a time of solid biblical resources. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you to Spirit filled revelation! May you and yours have a blessed day of celebrating our eternal King and His coming Kingdom! The greatest gift of all!

(It's year-end. Does this ministry bless you? Will you consider a year end donation? Click the donate button above to give through PayPal. Thank you so much for saying a prayer for the ministry’s reach and impact by the power of the Holy Spirit!)

The picture above is part of my skinny pencil tree.  It's filled with olive wood ornaments from Jerusalem.  I wanted olive wood souvenirs when I went to Israel in 2015, but they were pricey, so I decided to get something when I got home. 

It took a couple of years to find something I wanted, but a few years ago, there was a huge lot of olive wood ornaments from a former shop owner for auction on Ebay; and I won the bid!  I got around 150 ornaments for $20 plus shipping.  :).  I love them!  They perfectly fill my 7' pencil tree!

There are various kinds of camels, shepherds, manger scenes, stars, candles, wise men, donkeys, angels, crosses, roosters, doves, Mary with Jesus.  Like a little girl can get lost staring into her miniature doll house world, I get lost in my tree.  They remind me of that trip, especially our time in Old Jerusalem & in the ancient olive grove just a Sabbath day's walk from the city.  The walk is about 3000 ft.   

Here is a picture from the photo journal I put together.  I'm looking at Jerusalem from within the grove, standing on the Mount of Olives.  ​

​Script from today's podcast, episode 496-  To listen 👂🏽, access here on Apple Podcasts.

Honest hearts and open hands to receive are the basics of a healthy and thriving prayer life.  Let’s position that way before God today…

Hello and welcome to Peace Be Still!  Our interactive prayer and meditation exercises help you linger longer with God for peace and power.  Exercises are based upon God’s Word and promises!  I’m your host Gina Williamson and today being Friend Friday, we press in for His presence and His person for peace.

Jesus gives us some clear and simple direction on how to have a good relationship with God.  He tells the woman at the well in John 4, that true worshipers worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, that God seeks those type of worshipers.  He said it was imperative to worship this way, repeating himself in verses 24.  'God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirt and truth." 

The woman at the well didn’t realize who she was talking to and she approached her conversation with Jesus by taking on some areas of seemingly religious bitterness brewing in her heart.  Please reference her replies in John 4:9,12. 

Jesus turns the tables on her though and takes the conversation to one of personal revelation.  He told her that she has had 5 husbands and the man she now had was not her husband.  Jesus wanted honest heart dialogue about the real issues that brought her shame. 

And after giving her living water of personal revelation, He is clear that if anyone would be a worshiper of God, they must worship in the Spirit and in truth.  His Spirit at work in us to reveal heart issues.  We must admit and confess so we can then be forgiven, sanctified, and transformed. 

What might you be embarrassed to confess in front of Jesus?  The woman at the well was hiding her deepest area of sin and shame from Jesus, but He called it out and then invited her to drink from him in a way that satisfied her deepest soul thirst.  That invitation is also for you today. 

Let’s pray. 

"Lord you are sovereign over all things.  There is nothing we can hide from you.  You know our thoughts before they are on our lips.  We cannot hide our choices, thoughts, or feelings.  What do you want us to examine in your presence today?  Holy Spirit, with the tender touch of God, will you reveal truth to this one?  In agreement, say yes God, reveal truth.

(Wait.)

What thoughts are coming to mind?  Do you need to relieve your heart of burden in any area?  Simply admit to God what needs to be confessed.

(Take time to do this.)

Lord your grace is sufficient for us.  Your power is made perfect in our weakness.  Thank you for cleansing and freeing this one of burden, shame, and trouble within.  Thank you for your grace and relieving our soul of guilt.  Let this one feel your presence, your favor, your love, your Spirit breathing new life into their soul. 

Now spend time on your own, enjoying His presence.  "Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus..."

The video above is of today's Friend Friday LIVE prayer time in our Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download private group.  If you'd like to join the group, please visit FB, search for the group by name, and ask to join!  Today's broadcast was about 5 minutes of context for set up in praying, and then I lead you in the prayer time that lasts about 10 minutes!

Our Savior felt strong feelings at the tomb of Lazarus.  Let’s enter the scene and meditate upon the what and why of those feelings.

In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he tells some curious disciples, “Come and see", John 1:39.  This in response to their inquiry of where he was staying.  Really, they wanted to spend more time with Him believing He could be the promised Messiah.  He invites them nearer, “Come and see”.  This begins a 3 year journey for them to follow and see Jesus reveal His true nature as the Son of God. 

In those 3 years, Jesus teaches with great authority and performs awesome signs and wonders.  For just a few examples, we know he exorcises demons, restores limbs, cures leprosy, opens the eyes of the blind, heals the deaf and mute, stills the seas to a whisper, walks on water, multiplies loaves and fishes twice for the multitudes, raises the dead.  He did these things as proof for His claim as the Messiah and to lead His people to believe in Him.  Jesus labored intently for people to believe that He was the Resurrection and the life.   

Fast forward to the end of His walk.  Let's look at Lazarus’ death, it’s near the end Christ's time on earth.  We learn in John 11:4-15 Jesus purposely delays going to Lazarus, telling his disciples 3 different ways that Lazarus would not sleep in death.  He would go and wake him up that they may believe.

As he draws near to Bethany, Jesus is met by Martha who tells him, “if you had just been here, my brother wouldn’t have died”.  He challenges her that whoever believes in Him will never die, asking her “do you believe this?”  Then He goes no further, instead telling Martha to fetch Mary.  She comes to him and says the same thing, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Jesus looks around and sees Jews who came along with her.  They are all weeping.  Here scripture records that Jesus is deeply moved and troubled.  

If you look deeper, you see these words mean that he groaned with indignation within, a deep sigh against them, a charge of admonition against their unbelief.  He didn't voice it, He contained it.

He’s about to go to the cross.  His time is almost up.  He loves them deeply, yet here they are still trapped in unbelief and this distresses him greatly.

John 11:35- Jesus wept. 

They incorrectly think his weeping is a sign of how much he loved Lazarus.  Yes He loved Lazarus deeply, but what's really going on in this account is that He was distressed by their unbelief. 

And even as He wept, the blame kept coming.  "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Think about Jesus having to hear their snide remarks at the point.  He is about to suffer an inhumane death, to be abandoned by everyone.   And still they do not believe, despite all they've witnessed of His inexplicable power.

Think on that.  Consider the feelings and distress of Jesus here.

John 11:38 records that once again Jesus is deeply moved, i.e. with indignation, as he came to the tomb of Lazarus.

Consider his feelings again as He is deeply moved a 2nd time.  Do you wonder if he was perhaps having flashes of his own impending death coming into his thoughts as He sees Lazarus' tomb? 

He tells them to roll the stone away.  Martha argues against it, reminding Jesus it has been 4 days since Lazarus died and there will now be a bad odor.

He challenges Martha again, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

As they take away the stone Jesus prays, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

He calls Lazarus out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man comes out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Can you see this scene in your mind's eye?  Can you see Mary and Martha, the unbelieving crowd, the mourners watching Lazarus walk out of the tomb wrapped in grave clothes?  Can you imagine their amazement as they unwrap him?  As he takes his first breath of fresh air?  The amazement?  The rejoicing?  The wonder?  The laughter? 

How many of them do you think felt deep conviction that their unbelief had limited their ability to see Jesus for who He was?  It limited them, but it didn’t limit Jesus.

This is the mercy in this passage.  Their unbelief didn’t limit what Jesus was willing to do and had planned to do all along.  At this point with him, they were being tested by their Savior.

He will do the same with us.  He will bring us to the brink of our belief.  Consider:

• Do you need to confess any unbelief today?
• Are you blaming Him in any way for not being there in your timing?
• Do you pray the way Jesus prayed?  Practice it. “Father I know you have heard me.  I know you always hear me.”  
• Do you experience peace and confidence to speak that way in His presence?  Push through any unbelief or discomfort.   Pray boldly in His presence.
• Do you hear Him calling you out of any bondage?  Hear Him calling your name, "(insert name), come out!"  Declare that He is the resurrection and the life.  
• Unburden by confessing what the Spirit brings to mind; and then pray, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” 

He will be merciful to help you! 

I pray that by faith, you pray bigger prayers for His glory to be revealed in inexplicable ways!  He does not change!  He is still a God of signs, miracles, and wonders!

If you want to listen to the audio version of this devotional, listen to today's Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download episode-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/470-tranquil-tues-meditate-on-the-feelings-of-jesus/id1506101286?i=1000550460960 

  💥Here is the best planning advice anyone could give you. You aren’t meant to lead. Some will take that with offense, but others will feel the relief it is meant to bring! ...YOU AREN'T MEANT TO LEAD.

You are meant to be led, by someone, partnered with Someone who carries the burden. There is an easy yoke involved...

Today being Tranquil Tues in Peace Be Still's podcast, we use an image from scripture to spend time in His presence.

Our image today comes from Matthew 11:28-30. Many of you may know these verses by heart. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

These are words of Jesus. A yoke was a common reference to people in the 1st century. Their economy was largely based upon agricultural trade. The land had to be worked and prepared for the seed. Heavy cargo also needed to be carried into the marketplace. So oxen and other burden bearing animals were paired together with a wooden beam to labor together. The wooden beam joining the animals is the yoke.

This is the visual Jesus wants us to reflect on when he says, “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This makes sense when you consider how the animals were paired up. Seasoned and strong burden bearers were paired with less experienced, weaker laborers. The weight of the yoke was mostly carried by the stronger among the two, therefore easing the burden of the weaker, coaching and leading the way.

Jesus is obviously revealing Himself as the strong One who bears the burden for you. He is sooooooooooooo much stronger than you. He will faithfully lead and guide you!

This is revelation for soul rest. You aren't to go it alone. Jesus is telling us we are to pair up, to partner with Him. This is inspiration for today's visual. Jesus is telling us He will bear the burden of our souls. He is telling us to come to Him and learn from Him. He’ll shift the weight on to himself and carry it for you. He is gentle and humble in heart, leading you to rest.

Let’s pray.

"Father, thank you for Jesus, our burden bearer. Thank you for sending us a gentle Shepherd to lead and guide us to rest. Jesus, we look to you to teach us your ways. Lord help us let go of striving. Holy Spirit help this one see any area of their life where they are laboring and burdened, going it alone. Shift the weight Holy One, carrying it for us so that our soul may rest. Amen."

What are you attempting to carry in your own power? See yourself setting it down, walking away from it.

In your mind’s eye, come near to Jesus.

See that He is welcoming you, His gentle ways encouraging you closer.

What does it look like to collapse near him, completely letting go? Feel the relief of letting everything go...
​
(to complete this visualization, listen to today's exercise found here.