Christmas Eve 2022

Vs. 1 Caesar Augustus

Caesar Augustus is known as one of the greatest leaders of all time

He inherited the throne by being the great nephew of Julius Caesar then clawed his way to complete power by defeating Antony and Cleopatra

United the empire by force and sheer genius that would bring peace for centuries

Through his reign he rebuilt Rome, built the Roman road system, and expanded the kingdom

Isn’t it ironic that the blood and sweat that shed to build this man’s kingdom would be the foundation that one day used for the Gospel to spread throughout the World

Caesar was the first to be called Augustus when the Roman Senate voted to give him that title

It means holy and was exclusively reserved for gods

He was the first Caesar to be considered a god

This man who clawed his way to the top became known as a god

Contrast that with Jesus who is God and descended to the lowest place and became and infant and then a poor servant

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

The world clamors after wealth, power, and fame

Jesus shed his royalty, position, and prestige

Vs. 2-3 World Census

The second thing I want to contrast between Jesus and Caesar is that of sovereignty

Every fourteen Caesar took a Census

He was able to make everyone in his empire move by simply issuing an order from his palace in Rome

People would have to go to the hometown of their Father and register

This meant that Joseph had to travel 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem

He and Mary were married so she had to go with him

It would probably have taken a week to walk there with Mary being full term

Caesar exhibited power rarely seen in all of history

Yet, God has an uncanny way of using World leaders for His purposes

Jeremiah 32:17 NIV

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

God is able to move heaven and earth for His purposes

We’ve seen God use rulers throughout time

He used Nebuchadnezzar to bring judgment on Israel

He used Cyrus to bring them back to Israel

Now he is using Augustus’ immense power to orchestrate His grand plan of the Incarnation

No matter what happens in the world you

vs. 4-5 City of Bethlehem

Bethlehem was the city of David from the Tribe of Benjamin

Benjamin = Son of my right hand

City of David

That fitting since Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father

It was prophesied that the Messiah would be born in this village

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

From a small village in the smallest tribe came the Savior of the World

So much more than that

Bethlehem means house of bread

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Jesus was the bread of life, who was the beloved son who sat at the right hand of his father

Vs. 6-7 The Incarnation

The village was swollen because of the census

The local hotel was full

All of the relatives houses were packed

All that was left was a stable, probably a cave, where animals lived, and a stone feed trough

In the humblest surroundings the greatest event in history happened… the incarnation

God became human

Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

God was with us and we would forever be changed

Why did Jesus have to be born of a virgin?

He needed to come with a clean slate

We are all born into sin

Being born of a virgin meant that he wasn’t

He had a clean slate and kept it clean which meant that he was was qualified to be the sacrificial lamb on the cross

Christmas promises us two things

Peace and Joy

Peace comes from being transformed by the incarnation

When you encounter Jesus are you changed

The shepherds encountered the angels and went and Jesus

They returned to their normal lives transformed

When you encounter Jesus every Christmas is the result Joy?

If the answer is no, it may be that you are not at peace with God

We are born with hearts that have no peace with God because they are unredeemed and unwilling to surrender to Him.

It is not until GOD in His grace brings us to the end of ourselves and we repent of our sins and trust in the work of Christ on the cross that we enter into a peaceful relationship with God where He is pleased with us.

That is where we are transformed and we can return to our normal lives full of joy