December 5
And Joseph also went up from Galilee…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, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:4-7 (ESV)
Under his rise to power in 27 BC, Caesar Augustus inaugurated the historic Pax Romana—a Roman order of world peace. Rome’s political influence and military might spanned from the Roman peninsula to southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa for years.
During this time, the Empire—with Koine Greek as the common language and religious tolerance as a virtue—provided a secure and accessible network of roads for safe passage, commerce, and communication among its culturally diverse peoples.
However, Joseph and Mary’s lives were everything but peaceful. Betrothed to be married, Mary became unexpectedly pregnant. Joseph, feeling betrayed, planned to divorce her quietly. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and informed him that the conceived child was from the Holy Spirit. This baby, the promised Messiah, would become the Savior-King of the world.
The Book of Luke tells us that while Quirinius was governor of Syria, the deified Caesar Augustus summoned a census. Joseph brought Mary to register in Bethlehem, for his ancestral roots traced back to King David.
Picture this: As they arrive, Mary goes into labor. With no room in the inn, the simple stable will serve best for their newborn’s birth. Mary’s water breaks while Joseph frantically prepares a DIY crib. He cleans out the leftover wheat from the animal feeding trough, adds fresh straw, and then lines it with a cloth. Mary delivers a healthy baby boy as she cries out His name, “Jesus!” “And He will save His people from their sins,” Joseph whispers. “Immanuel—Our Prince of Peace!”
Jesus, this promised Messiah, would establish the Lord’s rule and reign, bringing true and lasting peace—not by force, like Caesar Augustus, but by being a humble servant.
This Christmas, let us renew our trust in the Lord, for God’s timing is perfect, He rules over even the most powerful, and His power is made perfect in weakness.