Friday, December 20, 2013
Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. ...
THINE THE KINGDOM
How did Jesus come to be born in Bethlehem, when He was later well known as Jesus of Nazareth? Luke looked into it, and traced it back to Augustus, first emperor of the Roman Empire. When He issued a decree, people began jumping even before it was published.
In this case his decree affected the entire Empire, establishing a registration for tax purposes. In such an huge event, with so many people on the move, who would be likely to notice a poor carpenter and his wife traveling for three days along the Jordan route, down from Galilee to Judea, from Nazareth to Bethlehem?
But the world-wide census was not such a huge event for Him who created the heavens and the earth, yet sees when even the smallest sparrow falls to the ground. He had something far greater going. The wheels of God's plan were moving, the ancient prophecies were being carried out, His oft-repeated and picturesque promises were being fulfilled!
The things that loomed large in the minds of most people were things that made noise for a short time on the earth. Is it not still so today? When world leaders journey to Europe or the middle East, many notice, but who would take notice of the journeys made to God's house? And yet it is there that God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, comes to us in His Word of Grace, smiles upon us as His own children for Jesus' sake, embraces us with His love, and distributes to us not only passing gifts, but forgiveness of sins and a joyous life of love to last forever!
