Festival of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Posted on December 27, 2021 by under
Scripture: St Luke 2:22-24 (NKJV)
2:22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Devotion
From Moses to the prophets, on to the Apostles, God has given us His Words and wisdom so that we may know His holy will for us. The Law, in all its various applications, was given so that we may know what true righteousness looks like. The ceremonial laws show us what righteous worship looks like. His examples of civil laws show us how a righteous society
maintains good order. And the moral law shows us that we have no righteousness apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The people of Israel had strayed and abused God’s Law. The Pharisees represented the false doctrine that had thoroughly grasped the hearts of the people. They thought their righteousness could come from themselves. Even before our Savior came in flesh and blood, the ceremonial laws could only point forward to God’s work which would fulfill His own promises. Circumcision, purification, and sacrifices only showed a preview of the greater work of the Lord that would come later in His Son.
Mary and Joseph were blessed with faith from God. They heard and believed that He would do wondrous things through the Child in their care. Later, St. John and the other Apostles and Evangelists would also be blessed with the faith and diligence to bring forth the wondrous Word and teaching of Christ. By this holy Gospel, all who hear and believe may know the true Word of God which gives us everlasting life in all that Jesus did for us.
Prayer: Merciful Lord, we beseech Thee to cast the bright beams of Thy light upon Thy Church, that it being instructed by the doctrine of the blessed Apostles, may so walk in the light of Thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
