In those days a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus t
hat all the world should be registered.
Luke 2:1
And the angel said to them,
“Fear not, for behold, I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke
2:10-11
“It was the best of times; It was the worst
of times,” declares Charles Dickens at the opening of A Tale of Two Cities. I suppose this could be said of many times
and places.
Some seem to have understood the recent
elections in this way. Approximately half of our population is exuberant at an
unexpected victory by their candidate and approximately half of our nation is
in despair at what they consider to be the disastrous defeat of their chosen
candidate.
I don’t know if you prefer the evening news
or the morning news, the internet or newspapers. Whatever your choice for news all
the headlines imply the same message: “The future of America depends on our political
leaders.” You may have been persuaded by such a message but Advent and
Christmas show the folly of such thinking.
The second chapter of Luke begins with these
words, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus.” If you were Herod the Great or one of the super-rich
of the day, you may have considered it to be the best of all times. The Roman
Emperor was in control. Trade and commerce were abundant. Roman immorality was
accepted in all parts of the Empire.
If you were a religious Jew at the time, as
Mary and Joseph undoubtedly were, you may have considered this to be the worst
of all times. Pagan temples dotted most of the historic homeland of the Jews.
Only Jerusalem was safe from idolatry.
Herod had displaced most of the legitimate religious leaders, even
installing his own High Priest. The wealthy lived in the lap of luxury on the
backs of the poor and their taxes.
Nevertheless, things were not as they
seemed. Although Caesar Augustus was on
the throne in Rome, God was still in charge.
He directed the secular authorities to do His bidding.
Unknown to Caesar, his quest for a more
thorough form of taxation was just a tool that God used to bring Mary and
Joseph to Bethlehem, the City of David.
There the savior of the world would be born in fulfillment of Old
Testament prophesies. And so began an Advent that no one can forget. The long
awaited Messiah came just as promised.
Among those who had every right to be unhappy
were the shepherds. According to ancient sources, shepherds were among the poor
and despised of the day. They were suspected of dishonesty. A third-century rabbi expresses surprise at
the fact that David can compare God with a shepherd (Concordia Self-study
Commentary).
Yet these poor, despised shepherds would be
the first to celebrate Christmas. They learned what was hidden from the
influential, rich and powerful. They heard God’s own messenger declare: “Fear
not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord”
For Christians, it is the best of times! God is still God. He often works in mysterious and hidden
ways. He saved you from sin, death and
the devil with the despised and rejected Savior who died on the cross.
Now is not the time to put your faith in
politics or to despair. Advent and
Christmas put things back in perspective for us.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
