Significance of the Census

The last couple of weeks we learned about Human Reactions to a Heavenly Announcement.

For us, we can and should have learned a lot from the reactions of the people to Gabriel’s message: Zachariah reacted by making it all about Jesus, and not even his own miracle baby’s birth. and Mary reacted by saying “No matter what people think, I’m here to serve the Lord.”

Tonight, I want you to see humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus.

the census that Caesar Augustus decreed tells us a lot more than we realize about the birth of Jesus.

The Census of all Census

What does Caesar Augustus’ census tell us about the birth of Jesus?

A census is a periodic counting by which a government:

a) Quantifies

s, and ruthless. So for this government, Joseph, Mary, and their new baby boy (Jesus) was just a small i

In that day and age, the Roman Empire was the biggest empire around.

It was powerful, prestigious, and ruthless. So for this government, Joseph, Mary, and their new baby boy (Jesus) was just a small i

I need you to understand something: when Jesus came into this world, the popular crowd wasn’t flocking to Him, but the shepherds, and wise men were. the Angels were roaring, and the course of mankind was about to change forever.

putting a number on Jesus is pretty hard.

For an athlete, they are “numbered” by stats. Musicians are “numbered” by albums sold.

Jesus’ fed: 5,000 & 4,000

miracles performed: approximately 37

b) Categorizes

Jesus would have been categorized as a normal baby boy.

but Jesus through Scripture is classified as: carpenter, healer, physician, miracle worker,

c) Classifies

Classifying the people in this day and age, is just like classifying the people today.

There are rich, middle class, poor, etc.

1. The Significance of the Census

Let’s remember that Luke is writing this to a man named Theophilis. He’s a gentile and Luke is writing to give an account of Jesus.

Now I’m not sure about you, but I love to make much of the people I love. Right? For example: I think Hailey is the greatest person on the planet, and I just want to tell you all about her! The same with you guys, I love telling my friends about how awesome you are as a youth group!

when you brag on someone, you don’t want to waste time telling them about “bad” things though right? then it becomes hateful, gossipy, and rude.

But in the passage we’re going to read tonight, Luke is bragging on someone he loves, and he is going to share the ENTIRE truth of Jesus.

And we can learn a lot about his humble circumstances.

Read

the census that Caesar Augustus issued in is pretty important because it shows the humble circumstances that Baby Jesus would be born into:

The Census reminds us that Jesus was going to be born into a place that:

a) Birthplace in Bondage

Please understand this: God’s people were in a mess because of their disobedience.

Jesus was born in a place of bondage to set those in bondage free from that bondage!

How do we know they were in bondage?

Check out who was ruling.

Caesar Augustus - Rome

When man think’s his strength is what got him places, take a step back and understand that God was always in control.

what caused that bondage?

disobedience

What we as people need to remember that God has to be supreme!

What we have to remember about this bondage Jesus was being born into is that even if it was a utopia and Israel was in control and ruling and reigning - there was still bondage.

Jesus came to set us free from all bondage, and the fact that Rome was ruling over Israel only helps prove the point that their is and always will be a sin problem!

b) Citizen of the City

For Mary and Joseph, they were currently living in Nazareth. So why did they have to go to Bethlehem to participate in this census?

This fulfilled Scripture because Jesus was of the lineage of David. (Micah 5:2)

Bethlehem means “house of bread” and Jesus is the “Bread of life”

this is huge because it shows us that God came here to be BROKEN FOR US

it’s also important to remember some other thing that happened in Bethlehem

King Herod had all the 2 year olds and younger kids killed in Bethlehem, because he wanted so badly to be in control and stay King.

the Census reminds us that Jesus was in control even to the cross. We are so weak and insignificant without Jesus!

He left everything for us and became poor so we can be made rich!

I heard about a lady that was driving one night and ran out of gas. Stranded and out of luck a man approached her and gave her $20.

what’s amazing about this is that the man wasn’t wealthy, he actually gave her his last $20 - he was homeless.

What happened next is awesome, the lady ended up raising about $300,000 for him

That’s great and all, but don’t you dare forget that King Jesus left the portals of heaven to a bunch of broken, spiritually poor people. He became poor and GAVE EVERYTHING, so that we might become rich!

Someone give me an amen!

c) Savior that Satisfies

the significance of the birth of Jesus shouldn’t be placed on the fact that there wasn’t room in the inn. or that the guy that owned the inn was a bad man.

it is that Jesus was born to break the chains of bondage, in a city called bethlehem to be our satisfaction!

This census that “Caesar Augustus was in control of” and issued, was actually God in complete control.

this specific time so that He would have to go back to Bethlehem, be counted as a citizen of that city so we can remember that He satisfies!

We’re almost done, but check this out:

Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

That word manger is a feeding trough for animals

The original word for manger is written in the bible only 5 times (4 times in Luke) and the only time it was written in the Old Testament was

says, “

2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth;

For the Lord speaks,

“Sons I have reared and brought up,

But they have revolted against Me.

3 “An ox knows its owner,

And a donkey its master’s manger,

But Israel does not know,

My people do not understand

it’s almost like God said “this is how you are going to remember Me… this is going to be the start of you knowing Me!”

The significance of the census shows us that 1) Baby came to bondage, 2) he became a Citizen in the City, and he 3) becomes a Savior that Satisfies