Eight Maid a-Milking: A Brand New Beginning for the Whole World
The Eighth Day of Christmas
Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:6-7 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Reflection: If the number seven in Scripture speaks to completion and perfection, the number eight would be seen over and above this perfect completion, and would speak to the first of a new series. Therefore, eight is the number of “new beginnings.” God saved eight people on Noah’s ark in order to have a new beginning for mankind after the flood. Since the meaning of four is derived from God's creation of everything, the number eight (4 + 4) pictures the new creation after the flood.
Abraham was given circumcision as a covenant sign (Genesis 17:12) speaking to his lineage being a “new beginning” from the lineage of Adam. Hebrew boys were to be circumcised on the eighth day, thus, declaring not only a new beginning, but a new lineage. We who are in Christ are a new creation because we have been given a “new beginning” in Christ and are born again as part of a new line of people. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Sabbath is celebrated on the seventh day, in contrast, the church was born on an eighth day, the Day of Pentecost. After the 7 weeks of the spring harvest, the next day, the fiftieth day, is the Day of Pentecost. This day is also the eighth day of the seventh week. The anniversary of the 8th/50th day also speaks to why the church chooses to gather and worship on first day of the week or the eighth day as a sign of the church being God’s new beginning.
Jesus showed himself alive EIGHT times after His resurrection from the dead. His first appearance alive was to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11). He then showed Himself to two disciples traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24). Next, he appeared to all the disciples except Thomas (John 20:19-24) then a week later to all them when Thomas was present (John 20:26-29). According to the apostle Paul, Christ also was seen by 500 believers at one time (1Corinthians 15:4-7). Jesus also met his disciples at the appointed place in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-17) and on Galilee's shores (John 21:1-24). His final meeting was on the Mount of Olives, where he gave his followers instructions before ascending to heaven (Acts 1).
This fulfilled the wonderful prophecies of Isaiah and Habakkuk.
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder. Isaiah 29:14 and
Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5
Eight maids-a-milking is not much of a new beginning, especially in our day and time. But the resurrection of our Lord and Savior was and is a declaration of the new beginning offered to all who will call upon the Name of the Lord.
Prayer and Praise: Lord Jesus, help me to know, understand and experience these words given by Isaiah. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands. Isaiah 42:9-12