The Saviour's Humble Birth

Introduction

Luke keen to definitively set the scene for Theophilus

1. A World Power Moved by God (vv.1-3)

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.” (Luke 2:1–3, NIV84)

1.1. The Powerful Ruler

"In those days Caesar Augustus..."

Roman Rule of the Day...

Rome was the world power

Great political conquests

By this time - Mediterranean under Roman rule

Extensive wealth (although that wealth was concentrated on the upper class, particularly the aristocrats...

The ruler - Augustus...

Birth

Born in 63 B.C.

Born = Gaius Octavius

Great Uncle = Julius Caesar

Julias Caesar

Early Life

17 Years old - went to spain to a war alongside Caesar

Shipwrecked - made his way through enemy territory to get to Caesar

This impressed Caesar - ultimately led Caesar to leaving his inheritance to Augustus...

Rise to Power

Julius Caesar was put to death by Roman Senate

This led to civil wars - great unrest.

43 B.C. - 2nd Triumvurate - Octavian; Mark Antony; Marcus Lepidus

Eventually Octavian ousted Lepidus

Mark Antony - relationship with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt

31 B.C. - Great battle at Actium - Augustus defeated the forces of Mark Antony...

Pax Romana

27 B.C. - Pax Romana ushered in...

Roman Peace ----

Octavius was given the name Augustus...Roman Senate

Augustus = "Exalted One..."

Eventually - Augustus would be deified - viewed as a god.

Priene Inscription... dated 9 B.C.

“The most divine Caesar…we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things…for when everything was falling into disorder and tending toward dissolution, he restored it once more and gave the whole world a new aspect; Caesar…the common good Fortune of all…The Beginning of life and vitality…All the cities unanimously adopt the birthday of the divine Caesar as the new beginning of the year…Whereas the Providence which has regulated our whole existence…has brought our life to the climax of perfection in giving to us the emperor Augustus…who being sent to us and our descendants as Savior, has put an end to war and has set all things in order; and whereas, having become God manifest, Caesar has fulfilled all the hopes of earlier times…the birthday of the God Augustus has been for the whole world the beginning of good news concerning him.” (The Priene Inscription, written 9 BCE)

1.2. The Requirement

"A Census should be taken of the entire Roman world..."

Various censuses would be taken by this very Caesar

Josephus records that he had three key censuses taken during his reign.

This Census that needed to be taken was probably for the purpose of taxing people.

Census = registration...

This was most likely for the purposes of taxing the people.

As the Gospels unfold, what is going to become clear is that tax collectors were the epitomy of evil in the world - not because tax is bad... because they stole.

And so here is a census being taken...

NB to See - This great ruler is going about his business, but is actually being used by God...

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1, NIV84)

1.3. The Clarifying Remark

Notice that Luke includes this remark in Quirinius

"This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria."

This is a beautiful addition, and emphasizes a few things for us...

Firstly, it emphasizes the fact that Theophilus was a particular person, probably part of the Royal household himself.

It also demonstrates that Luke wanted to be very particular about things.

You know that a person is lying when they start telling vague "facts". But Luke is looking to be very precise and particular.

He wants Theophilus not just to know that this took place during some census (there were many) but during which census these events unfolded.

Secular historians has sought to discredit Luke's account, saying there is no record of such census taking place at this time.

But there are plenty of reasonable ways to piece history together which would certainly fit in with Luke's record before us.

Note that Theophilus was a contemporary of those days - he would have been well familiar with the events in Rome.

Luke had no hesitation in making this clear to him.

Objections...

Objection is that Quirinius did not take a census until A.D. 6, (based on when he was governor)

Luke well aware of Quirinius census in AD 6

He makes mention of this census in Acts 5:37...

But clearly Luke is aware of other census' taking place.

And he places this in the text in order to be very specific for the sake of Theophilus... clearly, we must be able to trust his words well.

1.4. The Extensive Response

Notice that "everyone went to his own town to register."

Some have said - would Caesar do such a thing, putting such a burden on the people..

Caesar would wield his power for the sake of the kingdom... wasn't afraid to make life a little uncomfortable.

The roads during school holidays - very busy!! Toll gates jammed...

This was more than a number of people going to a particular destination.

It required people that were stretched out all over the Roman world to make travels to their own home town in order to register.

It was an exceptionally busy time.

David Gooding writes: “For Augustus the taking of censuses was one of the ways he employed to get control over the various parts of his empire. But—and here is the irony of the thing—in the process, as he thought, of tightening his grip on his huge empire, he so organized things that Jesus, Son of Mary, Son of David, Son of God, destined to sit on the throne of Israel and of the world, was born in the city of David, his royal ancestor.” Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 67). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

2. Humble Servants Moved by God (vv.4-5)

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” (Luke 2:4–5, NIV84)

2.1. The Servants

"...So Joseph..."

"...He went there... with Mary..."

Not only does the entire world (Roman world) go to their place of birth, but young Joseph goes, along with Mary

They were pledged to be married - recall that in those days this was as good as being married.

It was also probably a requirement that the spouse needed to be with when registering.

Awareness of Prophecies concerning Messiah's birthplace?

They also would have been familiar with the Scriptures that spoke about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem... perhaps they had even wondered about this...

But now, the hand of God had moved Caesar Augustus to issue this decree, right at the time that she was ready to give birth.

It was very likely that they were marvelling at the work of God in the circumstances.

Note that Joseph "belonged to the house and line of David.

Establishing the credentials of the son that is to be born.

2.2. The Trip Undertaken

"...up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee..."

"...to Judea, to Bethlehem..."

This is a similar journey to what Mary had travelled previously when she went to visit Elizabeth.

Recall that Elizabeth lived with Zechariah somewhere in the hill country of Judea.

Just a few months earlier, Mary had travelled back from her visit to Elizabeth,

She was now being required to make the journey again.

As the crow flies - about 110km.

By foot / donkey - closer to 140 or 150km...

Over rugged terrain, this was no easy feat...

Mary was heavily pregnant.

We know in our own day how any kind of long-distance travel for pregnant women is discouraged by doctors.

They may say it's okay to go by car... but certainly not by plane!!

How about donkey!?!?

Mary would have gone by donkey on this journey to the home town of Joseph, all the while being concerned, at least somewhat, by the fact that she was far pregnant...

Perhaps even concerned that she gives birth along the way.

Consider the place Bethlehem...

“The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”” (1 Samuel 16:1, NIV84)

vv.6-7 - Samuel sees first son - thinks he's the one... God says must look at the heart..

v.11 - David was not even considered... "but he's tending the sheep..." insignificant... doing the menial family chores...

18:18 - notice David sees his father and clan as insignificant. Not even worthy of becoming the son-in-law of a king.

18:23 - David says that he is a poor man and little known...

3. A Humble Ruler Brought Forth by God (v.6-7)

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7, NIV84)

3.1. Prophetic Fulfilment.

Where Jesus was born was in fulfilment to prophecy

““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”” (Micah 5:2, NIV84)

Magi from the East - before Herod - confirmed this... Matthew 2:1-7

Smallness of Bethlehem... insignificant.

In the midst of the rule of Caesar Augustus, a little child, a meek Saviour, is going to be born.

But the Saviour, sent into the world by God Himself, is not sent to a palace, to a noble city.

He would not be born in the great city of Rome... or perhaps more importantly, the great city of God, Jerusalem!

Rather, he would be born in Bethlehem.

3.2. The Firstborn of Mary; and over creation

"...she gave birth to her firstborn, a son..."

This would not be her only son - she would go on to have a number of other son.

But this was her firstborn son.

Most significantly, this is the one that would be called the First-born of God.

Colossians... (Turn there...)

Col.1:15

He was the firstborn of all creation.

He was the one by whom and through whom all things were made

He was the pre-existent son of Almighty God

He is one who deserved all people to come and worship Him.

Every knee in all of the created world, including Caesar Augustus, should rightfully come and acknowledged his greatness and his glory.... yes glory!!!

This will indeed happen one day - Phil 2...

And yet here he enters into humanity, come in order to serve.

The fact is that a son is born to Mary.

3.2. The Humble Birthplace

v.7 "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

They arrive in Bethlehem - long, tiring journey

Go and seek a place to stay in the local inn

Recall - many people traveling...

The Inn most likely refers to a guesthouse where groups of travelers slept in a common room. Primitive.... Dirty.... especially by contemporary standards... not smart, posh etc.

Inn keeper tells them - no place!!

And so they have to find some place...

They go to where the animals are kept...

"Manger" = feeding trough

The manger was a feeding trough, possibly even simply dug into the ground...

Justin Martyr (100-165AD): “Since Joseph had nowhere to lodge in that village, he lodged in a certain cave near the village; and while they were there, Mary brought forth the Messiah and laid him in a manger.”

This was not birth in a private hospital.

It was not birth in a public hospital, perhaps slightly less clean and sparkling...

This was a natural birth in the most dirty of spaces.

In short, everything we know about the birth of Jesus points to obscurity, indignity, pain, and rejection. One of the great mysteries of our universe is that when God the Son became a man he spent his first night in a barn. Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 71). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing

PONDER!!!

Application and Conclusion

Look back at Luke 1:51-52 in the song of Mary. How applicable.

God's Purposes Unfolding

Every eventuality in your life is within the grand purposes of God

Nothing that happens to you, is happening to you, is outside of His knowledge and plan

No Exaltation without Humility

Christ came as a humble servant.

He would ultimately be exalted.

Humility in our salvation

God is infinitely superior to us.

God is not simply a bigger version of us.

This past week - omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence of God.... profound truths concerning the God that we serve.

And yet, this Almighty became a feeble babe in the arms of a mother... dependent on his mothers care while unable to care for Himself...

Luke 14:7-14

Make Room for Christ

Now, of course, they didn't know that this was the king of kings.

The inn-keeper wouldn't have been aware.

But it's a fitting situation - people very often find no room for Christ in their lives.

He must be relegated to some back place... some insignificant place in their own lives.

It was precisely because of His humility that ultimately Christ was highly exalted!!!

Today, Christ is no longer in the manger, in the feeding trough, but he sits on the throne of God, ruling and reigning from on high.

“When Christ first came among us we pushed him into an outhouse; and we have done our best to keep him there ever since.” Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 72). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

As Norval Geldenhuys has observed, “What the inhabitants of Bethlehem did in their ignorance is done by many today in willful indifference—they refuse to make room for the Son of God. They give no place to Him in their feelings, their affections, their thoughts, their views of life, their wishes, their decisions, their actions, or their daily conduct.” Ryken, P. G. (2009). Luke. (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 72). Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.