EVERY birth is a miracle, and every child is a gift from God. But over 20 centuries ago, the miracle of miracles occurred. A baby was born, but he was the Son of God. The Gospels tell of this birth, but Dr. Luke, as though he were the attending physician, provides most of the details surrounding this awesome occasion. With a divine Father and a human mother, Jesus entered history, God in the flesh.
Before we get to the birth of Jesus Luke gives the background while setting the scene of the birth of Christ. “Enjoy The season, but know the reason.”
Luke 2:1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
- V2:1 In those days the Romans were spending more money than they were taking in so Caesar decided to raise taxes. In order to do that they had to know who to tax.
- History: A Roman census (registration) was taken to aid military recruitment or tax collection. The Jews weren’t required to serve in the Roman army, but they could not avoid paying taxes. The census was to efficiently and effectively tax everyone in the Roman Empire.
- Ironically, the peace and order established by Caesar Augustus and maintained by his successors helped in the spread of Christianity. The extensive network of Roman roads made travel easier. The Apostle Paul carried his missionary work westward over those roads. Both he and the Apostle Peter were executed in Rome, but not before they had spread the gospel there, causing the message to fan out on Roman roads to the rest of the ancient world.
Q: Does this sound like the United States over spending issues today?
- The $38.4 trillion gross federal debt. Although the debt affects each of us, it may be difficult to put such a large number into perspective and fully understand its implications. It would require a payment of $116,000 per person in America to pay the debt. America’s high and rising debt matters because it threatens our economic future.
Luke 2:2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius (Quy-rinius) was governor of Syria.) 2:3. And everyone went to their own town to register. 2:4. So, Joseph Mary’s husband also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
- In V3. The Census required every man in the Roman Empire to return to his birthplace and be counted. The Census of Quirinius was a census of Judea.
- Augustus’s decree went out in God’s perfect timing and according to God’s perfect plan to bring his Son into the world.
- V3 Old Testament Side Story Micah Prophesy around 450 BC. The prophet Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in the tiny village of Bethlehem:
- This prophecy was so well-known among covenant people that when Herod inquired about where the Christ was to be born, the chief priests and the scribes instantaneously directed him to Micah 5:2.
Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.’
Q: Why Bethlehem over Jerusalem?
- Bethlehem’, symbolizing humility and God’s favor to the overlooked. Jerusalem’s the big center, so Bethlehem adds this contrast showing the Savior comes for the humble, not the powerful city.
- TAKEAWAY: Hebrew for Bethlehem literally means House of Bread. in the Gospel of John, Jesus calls himself the bread of life. He says whoever comes to him will never go hungry or thirst again. Jesus would become the bread of life.
John 6:35 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
- The people have come to Jesus looking for another miracle: more free food (John 6:26). Instead, Jesus says they need to be seeking the “true bread from heaven” to obtain eternal life.
- Boaz from the Book of Ruth was also from Bethlehem. So was the shepherd boy David before becoming king. That town was where Ruth and Boaz met. Ruth was in the line of David
Luke 2:5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
- V5 Travels. They had to travel 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem. “It was a fairly grueling trip,
- Geography: Bethlehem is a small town five miles south of Jerusalem. It sits on a high ridge over 2,000 feet above sea level. The Jordan River is about 70 miles long, its main section stretching between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.
- So, picture this: After traveling pregnant on a donkey for several days, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and were told that there were no places to stay.
- Donkeys walk at the same speed as a human about 4 miles per hour with the average pace 2.5 mph. Some speculation puts it at seven days,
Luke 2:6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 2:7. and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
May this find you WELL and HAPPY, Have a blessed day