To All People

Well this week we will be starting a new chapter in Luke. We have basically spent 2 months on chapter 1 the introduction, and even with that barely scratched the surface of all that we could learn from that chapter. The first 20 verses of chapter 2 is the very familiar story read at Christmas about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 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, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Why is it so important to know who ordered the census and who was governor of Syria? Remember Luke is writing “an orderly account… that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed”. The reference to the rulers gives an account of what time this census took place. Luke wants to show that the birth of Jesus is not a rumor or a myth. It is not a legend about something that might have taken place. It is a historically grounded fact. This is a very common practice in scripture and even more so in the Old Testament. For God’s desire is to make His message clear and not to be obscured as a collection of vague stories with people who might or might not be real. The Old Testament is filled with genealogies, used to establish the real identities of the persons who God interacts with.

Last time we discussed the “Pax Romana” or the peace of Rome. This is the idea that a single empire comprised of multiple cultures could live in peace and security as long as they obeyed the will of Rome. Here we have an example of the will of Rome. In order to optimize the tax that would be collected for Rome, the Romans needed to identify everyone to avoid someone from telling officials from one town that they paid taxes already in another town. So everyone was required to go to the town of their ancestry. This was a massive inconvenience for an entire culture.

Though Mary was close to her time, there appears to be no excuse to obeying the requirements of the census. Being very pregnant the travel might have been slow and thus they arrived in Bethlehem after the inns were full from all the other people who also needed to be there for the census.

Then Jesus is born, just as prophesied in the Old Testament. Praise God!!

Luke 2:8 – 12 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manager”

The angel did not want the shepherds to be afraid, despite the sudden appearance of the angel and the presence of God’s glory. The angel has come to announce the most significant event in the history of the world ever. The birth of a savior, who is Christ the Lord. With these verses we are given a choice, to truly believe or to deny who Jesus is. Here are the choices put forth by human wisdom.

• There are many religions and they all are valid ways to know God
• Jesus came and died on the cross for those who were already predestined to be chosen by God for salvation.
• Jesus was a good man, who had teachings we should all listen to.
• Jesus was a myth

In this passage we hear the angels proclaim that the birth of Jesus is great joy for all people. The way that this is used in scripture is to mean all nations, people groups and tribes. This isn’t just good news for Israel or western civilization but for the whole world. Not only is Jesus a Savior, He is “Christ the Lord”. The one and only savior! The expected Messiah!

This appearance was to shepherds out in their fields attending their flocks. Shepherds were not a revered class of people. Just the opposite they were essentially tolerated, isolated and yet a great example of God’s compassion by being chosen as the first to hear the wondrous news of a miraculous birth.

I want you to know that you are included in the proclamation, that there are good tidings to you and great joy for your savior has been born. He is Christ Jesus the Lord.