The Proud Scattered, The Lowly Exalted

Luke 2:1–7 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke provides us with a record of the birth of Christ in just 7 verses at the beginning of Chapter 2. He has written it like a true historian. It is very matter of fact with no embellishments. Many might gloss over this and move on quickly to the angel visiting the shepherds. But Luke was careful and purposeful in what he wrote so I feel that it deserve careful consideration because although this may be just the facts about the birth of Jesus, there is no other birth as significant in all human history. So very detail of this event has enormous significance.

Luke is a historian and this Gospel like the other three is written is the style of a historical document. Meaning that these events are placed within the context of a particular place and time. And Luke gives us here the

The Context of the Birth of Christ

Luke 2:1 NKJV

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

So the first name mentioned here is Caesar Augustus. Who is Caesar Augustus? He was the adopted son or Julius Caesar. Rome became an Empire at the start of his reign so he was the first Roman Emperor. He ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to 14 AD. He began the imperial cult meaning that he was considered to have divine authority and was treated as a god. At this time he was considered the king of the world as Luke says he issued a decree that the whole world should be registered. He was the most powerful, most feared and most revered and most important man in the world at that time. And he made a decree that the whole world be registered for the purpose of tax. This is what was going on in the world when God sent an angel to Mary, Poor, lowly Mary and told her that the Saviour of the World would be her son.

Luke 2:2 NKJV

2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

This is perhaps the most controversial verse in the Gospel of Luke. Why?

Luke names here Quirinius and it say he was the governor of Syria. So whats the problem? Well Quirinius was appointed governor of Syria after the banishment of Herod Archelaus in 6 AD. Right after he became governor he took a census. This census was recorded by the Historian Josephus and was a significant event in Jewish history as it cause a rebellious uprising. It was as a result of this census that the zealot party formed. So whats the problem you ask? Well this census took place in 6 AD and yet according to the Gospel of Matthew Jesus was born in about 5-6 BC. So either Luke is off by about 10 years or we have made an error in our interpretation. Many critics of the Bible have used this discrepancy to claim that Lukes record in inaccurate and untrustworthy. However, there is, I believe a valid possibility.

Luke 2:2 NKJV

2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

The word first here comes from the greek word “Protos” which also means before. So it is quite likely that it should have been translated “This census took place before Quirinius was governing Syria. The use of the word “protos” is clearly to distinguish this particular census. And since the most known census to Lukes readers would have been the one under Quirinius it would make sense that he would specify that is was not that particular census but one that came before. Also, we know that Luke has already mentioned that at the time of the announcement of the birth of John to Zachariah that it was during the reign of King Herod or Herod the Great who died in 4 BC and was the Herod that the wise men had visited in Matthew’s gospel.

The Roman empire had several census’ under Caesar Augustus and this particular one was probably conducted by Herod which is why he would have had all the tribes return to their home cities as this was the way that Israel would have done a census.

Why is all this important to the birth of Christ?

Well I believe that apart from the fact that Luke is giving us the context I think he also wants us to see the contrast.

Here we have the world just going about it’s business. Kings and Governors doing what kings and governors do. Finding ways to collect more taxes. We have the most powerful men of that time going about there business completely unaware that the Saviour of the world was being born in Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus ruling over the entire world and being worshiped as a god and yet God incarnate the King of kings and the Lord of lords was being born in a humble setting and in a humble family.

I believe that Luke wants Theophelus and us to see this contrast because it reflects what Mary said in the previous chapter

Luke 1:47–53 NKJV

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

And what has changed today? The kings and governors, the prime ministers and presidents of the world are ruling going about their business. Which mostly consist of find more ways to tax people. Thinking that they are powerful, thinking that they are important and mostly completely unaware that the most important work done today is done by those who are pointing people to that lowly manger.

The Place of the Birth of Christ

Luke 2:3–6 NKJV

3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

The City of David Called Bethlehem.

Now Luke uses very specific and very interesting words here. See the city of David is Jerusalem. It was named the city of David after he conquer the Jebusites who occupied it at the time. It then became the place where he ruled from. But Luke reminds us that before David was king he came from humble beginnings. He was just a shepherd boy from Bethlehem the son of Jesse. And so Christ is born in humble Bethlehem not Jerusalem.

This was the prophecy.

Micah 5:2–5 NKJV

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” 3 Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren Shall return to the children of Israel. 4 And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; 5 And this One shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, And when he treads in our palaces, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight princely men.

So what Luke shows us is that God is sovereign over all the kings and governors of the earth. It was God’s purpose that Jesus be born in Bethlehem so he moved Caesar Augustus to call for a census so that Joseph and Mary would have to travel to Bethlehem so that the prophecy would be fulfilled that Christ would be born in Little, humble, Bethlehem.

No Room For Jesus

The final fact about the time and place of the birth of Christ that Luke shares is

Luke 2:7 NKJV

7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

While the kings and governors of the world go about their business unaware that they are being used by God to fulfil prophecy, unaware that the King of kings and Lord of lords is being born in little Bethlehem, unaware that the most important event in all human history is happening right under their nose. God incarnate is born and there is not even a place for Him. He is wrapped up and placed in a feeding trough for the live stock. Christ came into a world that he created and there was no room in this world for Him. From the moment He came into this world he was rejected and we sought to kill Him.

What about now? What about your life. Is there room for Jesus? How often do we allow our lives to become so full of all the things that we think are important that we can’t find any room for Jesus.

Revelation 3:20 NKJV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.