Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
All around the world people will gather with friends in fellowship and worship on this last Sunday in Advent. Worshiping as a church - a group of people committed to Jesus Christ by faith and fellowship - is a seeming inconsequential act given the world's situation. There is always conflicts, wars and rumors of wars, politics and the drama of political opponents, natural and tragic man-made disasters. The headlines are filled with the really "important" aren't they?
If you and I could have picked up the Jerusalem Post Newspaper on this day, what might have we read in the headlines of the day?
• “Ceasar’s tax decree create scarce accommodations for travelers”
• “Herod decrees every citizen to return to their home town, and pay these new taxes”
• “Roman Army moves on Gaul and sends more troops to Palestine”
• “Caesar and the Senate announces new building projects”
Caesar Augustus was on the throne - "the ruler of the entire Roman world" - hence "all the inhabited earth". The great nephew of Julius Caesar was a political pro who had fought and manipulated his way to power. He conquered territories and every foe until he became absolute ruler of Rome's empire - which stretched from Scotland to India. He was called "Augustus" when the Roman Senate threw their support towards him. "Augustus" means "holy", "revered one". Some of the Greek provinces in show of political support had named him a "god" and adopted his birthday as the first day of the year (Sept. 23rd). They hailed him as "savior", and even one discovered inscription notes he is "the savior of the world".
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
All around the world people will gather with friends in fellowship and worship on this last Sunday in Advent. Worshiping as a church - a group of people committed to Jesus Christ by faith and fellowship - is a seeming inconsequential act given the world's situation. There is always conflicts, wars and rumors of wars, politics and the drama of political opponents, natural and tragic man-made disasters. The headlines are filled with the really "important" aren't they?
If you and I could have picked up the Jerusalem Post Newspaper on this day, what might have we read in the headlines of the day?
• “Ceasar’s tax decree create scarce accommodations for travelers”
• “Herod decrees every citizen to return to their home town, and pay these new taxes”
• “Roman Army moves on Gaul and sends more troops to Palestine”
• “Caesar and the Senate announces new building projects”
Caesar Augustus was on the throne - "the ruler of the entire Roman world" - hence "all the inhabited earth". The great nephew of Julius Caesar was a political pro who had fought and manipulated his way to power. He conquered territories and every foe until he became absolute ruler of Rome's empire - which stretched from Scotland to India. He was called "Augustus" when the Roman Senate threw their support towards him. "Augustus" means "holy", "revered one". Some of the Greek provinces in show of political support had named him a "god" and adopted his birthday as the first day of the year (Sept. 23rd). They hailed him as "savior", and even one discovered inscription notes he is "the savior of the world".
The world was caught up in the Caesar cult. No one entertained the possibility
of a rival to his throne.
Seen through the news of that day, Joseph and Mary's movements were of insignificant nobodies from a nothing town traveling to pay the tax of the "god" Caesar by traveling to another nothing town south of Jerusalem. No one noticed the movement of a young couple riding a donkey from their home town in Nazareth to Bethlehem. They rode to Bethlehem because that was where Joseph was originally from. Did anyone notice?
The mystery of grace is capsulized in Joseph and Mary's movements that evening 2000+ years ago. The King does not reside in halls of power...not in Rome...not in Washington D.C. The King is King regardless of whether he appears poor and powerless. The world is about to be turned upside down and no one knew of it. The young unnoticed couple traveled to a little-known village of a few hundred people - Bethlehem, "the house of bread", where King David had come from, and Boaz had married Ruth, and Jacob had buried Sarah more than a thousand years before. Bethlehem was a small village...a few hundred people.
Prophets had spoke of it: Micah 5:2 (NASB)
2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."
God knew of it. In fact God knew of a lot of things that first Christmas. He knew of this young couple, Joseph and Mary, and had come to tell them of his plans. He led them to this little town through the decrees of this Caesar - who assumed he was running the world.
And so this poor couple - she of suspect pregnancy - he of
stalwart faith - walked and rode to pay their taxes to the powerful and rich.
The Messiah would indeed be born in tiny, insignificant Bethlehem! As the
Virgin traveled, her steady beating heart, hidden from the world, kept time
with the busily thumping heart of God.
The Creator had woven Himself
a robe of virgin flesh.
The baby Mary carried was not a Caesar, a man who would become "a god", but a far greater wonder — the true God who had become a man!
Today, all around the world, people will gather in churches, cathedrals, basilicas, and even houses for one purpose - To celebrate the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
a robe of virgin flesh.
The baby Mary carried was not a Caesar, a man who would become "a god", but a far greater wonder — the true God who had become a man!
Today, all around the world, people will gather in churches, cathedrals, basilicas, and even houses for one purpose - To celebrate the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
Have you ever felt, like me, little and insignificant in a world of 4 billion people, where all the news is of big political and economic and social movements and of outstanding people with lots of power and prestige? If you have, don't let that make you disheartened or unhappy. For it is a part of our reading of Scripture that all the self-chest-pounding politicians and all the governments, and all of the world's nations and people, without their even knowing it, are being guided by God, not for their own sake but for the sake of God's people.
Mary and Joseph who have to be got to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill the Caesar's decree, are leading an invasion. God is invading the world, and instead of an army, he sends a force of two - a Man and a pregnant Woman.
Do not think, because we experience turmoil in our world, that the hand of the Lord is stimied. It is not our comfortability but our
holiness that He seeks with all His heart. And to that end He rules the whole
world.
Proverbs 21:1 says: "The king's heart is a stream of
water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will."
"He is a
big God for little people and we have great cause to rejoice, that unbeknownst
to them, all the kings and presidents and premiers and chancellors of the world
follow the sovereign decrees of our Father in Heaven that we, the children,
might be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ." (John Piper).
Here we are the day before the night before...and All is Calm!
Silent Night, Holy Night.
All is calm, All is bright,
Round yon virgin,
Mother and child,
Holy Infant
so tender and mild,
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Silent night, holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night.
Son of God, loves pure light,
Radiant beams from thy holy place
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Comments