Luke: The Story (6)

Introduction

This short story is an account of contrasts in many ways

Caesar vs Joseph/Mary

Rome vs Bethlehem

Ruler vs Child

These contrasts I believe bring out some important deeper contrast that we must wrestle with as we look to follow Jesus

This story starts with great human power

Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel in their book The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb write specifically about challenge of power

In their first chapter they remind us of this challenge as shown in the Lord of the Rings

Here’s the quote:

‘“You are so wise and powerful. Will you not take the Ring?”

“No!” cried Gandalf, springing to his feet. “With that power I should have power too great and terrible. And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly.” His eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within. “Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused.”

In J.R.R Tokien’s The Lord of the Rings, the wizard Gandalf is the embodiment of true wisdom, but his wisdom may appear foolish— as when he refuses to take the ring of power. Gandalf is powerful, yet his is a power found in weakness. Other characters reject Gandalf's way, believing that the only way to truly defeat the enemy is by wielding the ring. But in the end they are unmasked as fools. Their eyes can see worldly power, but they are blind to the power of wisdom.’

And so we are introduced to Caesar Augustus and the first contrast

I. Power vs Weakness(surrender)

Imagine a leader that could do whatever they wanted

This is Caesar, the Emperor of Rome

After defeating his rival Pompey, Julius Caesar – who had adopted Octavius – declared himself “dictator for life,” to the ire of many contemporary senators. Whilst this was really an inevitable outcome of the endless civil wars that beset the Late Republic, he was killed for such bold impertinence by a large group of senators in 44 BC.

This cataclysmic event brought Augustus/Octavian to the fore, as he went about avenging his adopted father’s assassination and cementing his power base. After this he became embroiled in a civil war with Mark Antony, his adopted father’s old right-hand man.

He was ruthlessly successful in both endeavors to the point that by 31 BC he was the most powerful man in the Roman world, with little to no opposition left. In order to avoid the fate of his adopted father, however, he feigned the resignation of his position and “restored the republic” to the senate and people in 27 BC.

As he likely had expected (and calculated) the senate granted him extraordinary powers which allowed him to reign supreme over the Roman state. He was also offered the title “Augustus” which had semi-divine connotations. As such, the position of princeps (aka Emperor) was founded.

In many cases history tells us that because of such uncontrolled power a Caesar would be removed by taking his life

And so here when Caesar decrees (a formal or authoritative proclamation) you could not ignore or disobey

Now part of this decree was to have record of the citizenship or Rome but even more for taxing it’s people

There was not ignoring so, “Everyone went to be registered”

Including Joseph and Mary

In the midst of a mighty nation and ruler, these two were insignificant citizens from Nazareth headed to Bethlehem

but Joseph, “was of the house and family line of David.”

Significant because of God and His promises - the subversive work of God

And as far as Mary, Luke again reminds us that she is betrothed and pregnant

Insignificant to Rome, a reason for rejection among their own people

And here Luke contrasts the power of position and authority and the power of surrender

Mary and Joseph both had to surrender to God’s purpose and plan

And as we looked at last week, surrender is not a just give in because he’s going to do it anyway but a response of deep trust.

And from this surrender comes the mighty ruler

So let’s jump over to Matthew 1 for a couple minutes and notice a couple things about Joseph’s journey of surrender

II. Righteous vs Right

God’s not going to subvert his words but fill them out

Matthew Identifies Joseph as a righteous man vs 18-19

In other words, Joseph sought to follow the law, rituals and practices set out by God for Israel

But Josephs righteousness seems to want to get in the way of God’s right

This righteous man is here confronted with a seemingly unrighteous act

Either he and Mary were intimate before the fulfillment of their marriage or Mary had been unfaithful - Neither was right

And so he looked to love God and love Mary by quietly divorcing her - he believed this was the way

A public divorce would have created a greater shaming and would have made Mary an outcast

But as the angel reveals the reality of the situation; Joseph is confronted with the choice to continue as planned or trust and surrender

Trusting that what God was doing was greater than their reputations vs 24-25

2. Right in the middle of these two sections is a connection to what God had already proclaimed through Isaiah hundreds of years before. vs 22,23

The point: if we struggle, as Joseph and Mary did, with trusting God, this moment again says yes

For some: We religiously follow the rules and practices but struggle to look past them to trust God

And therefore shut down the right that God wants or is doing because it pushes outside the comfort of rules.

And for others: As the patterns, philosophies and idols of this world are proclaimed daily, declaring what is widely believed to be right and true, are we willing to truly trust what God has revealed to us?

Christmas time is a direct challenge to this:

Let me put it in a question: Are we at Christmas following/trusting the story of Santa or the story of Jesus

The story of Santa tells us that we will receive if we’re good, the story of Jesus tells us that it is only by God’s mercy and grace

Let me ask it this way: Do we spend more time and money on the things of Christmas than we do on Christ throughout the year?

III. Acceptance and Safety vs Sacrifice

Because the way of Jesus/Lamb calls us to sacrifice

Not necessarily giving up gifts at Christmas

But a trusting willingness to put aside our acceptance, safety and security to put Christ first.

And so Mary gives birth to a baby born out of wedlock, away from home and family and with out a Comfort Inn to stay at.

Guestroom - people would open up a room(s) in their home for travelers to stay in

This was not jumping from one hotel to the next

They would most likely been all over Bethlehem looking/asking

All they find is a manger

Micah 5:1–4 ESV

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. 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. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

Assyria here is besieging Jerusalem

and here is the promise given that pointed to this very moment in Luke

We are given a prophetic picture of it in Micah

The chief priests and Scribes point to these verses when Herod asks where the Messiah was to be born.

This seemingly human obedience to an earthly ruler and the sacrifice it took for them to make this journey was truly a sacrifice for the Lord.

And as they put everything aside to follow God’s purpose and plan so enters the God child who laid aside his right to Godhood and all it’s power and authority to be with us, as one of us and ultimately to die for us.

Our ultimate example and the one who truly saves -

So which way will we go?

The way of dragon, serpent, world or the way of the lamb, lord, Jesus?

Conclusion