We’ve been looking at the birth of John, which if I’ve done my math right….he is born about 6 months before Jesus is born, because Mary visited Elizabeth in her 6th month and Mary had just conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. We’ve seen some very personal and small picture interactions with angels and people….then Zacharias prophesying to a group of friends and relatives from the region of Judah about the coming Peace, Rescue and Salvation.
Today, we are going to get even bigger picture…the known world bigger- Rome.
Luke 2:1-5
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.
Rome was considered the world power of the times. Rome ruled…everything. Many things changed under Roman rule. Taxation, a standing army who really knew their stuff and the roadway systems were totally overhauled and re-worked during this time. Life was hard under Roman rule and expensive. In the midst of this, Caesar demands a census…for the purpose of taxation and expanding the empire. Rome must know what Rome must have. So the decree goes out and there are no “exemptions” or “get out of taxation cards” for anyone, so Joseph and Mary (a VERY pregnant Mary) travel to the city of David, Bethlehem.
There was no other reason that Joseph and Mary would leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem except by a decree of a powerful authority…I am SURE if given the choice, staying home would have been at the top of their list, but there was no choice. Off to Bethlehem they go. If this was me, I would be thinking; how annoying- how inconvenient- how troubling and troublesome!
Unless, there is an even greater decree of an even more Powerful Authority…One Who is authoring the decrees of world leaders. Yes, there is. The Most High God is fulfilling a prophecy given of the Messiah 700ish years before in Micah 5:2 (quoted in Matthew 2: 5-6, so evidently the Holy Spirit when inspiring the Word agreed this is prophecy fulfilled).
Think on that…. When Caesar Augustus and any other Roman big-wigs thought up the idea of a world-wide census, it was God moving and working. Getting Mary and Joseph right where they were supposed to be for the birth of Jesus. It was not seemingly inconvenient or burdensome…it was strategic and intentional. It was a total God-thing. Big picture, little picture…God is in control. Working, moving, initiating….speaking.
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