“…Now it came about in those
days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This
was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all were
proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from
the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, because he was of the
house and family of David; in order to register along with Mary, who was
engaged to him, and was with Child…” (Luke 2:1-5)
November
27,2012
Too often, I’ve skimmed through this, the
beginning of the Luke’s Christmas story, without giving much thought to what
this section meant. I’ve been thinking
about it this week, however:
“In those days” a
census meant that the people had to be counted and registered---in order for
them to be taxed by the government. To do this, they were required to return to
the land of their tribal inheritance to register. Remember that ‘In those days’ there were no
convenient or comfortable means of transportation, so it was a hardship for
everyone to have to do this. The roads were rocky, and probably crowded and
noisy. Businesses and agriculture were
being disrupted, schools probably had to be shut down —and life simply could
not go on as usual until the decree from the governmental authority was obeyed.
Caesar ruled supreme, and he simply had to be obeyed; however his authority was
deeply resented by the Jewish people. In
this passage then, we realize that though Jesus was not yet even born—yet, because
Joseph and Mary were engaged, Joseph already had to pay taxes on Him…. Jesus’ family
was oppressed by the government ---while He was still in the womb…
In our own country,
we have just experienced another contentious election, and there is much
discontent and anger over the results throughout our land. Many are grumbling
about who now rules, and holds authority over their lives. There is talk of our
taxes probably going up and other inconveniences having to be endured due to the
decree of the ones in power. Yet, if we look at the example of the Holy Family
in this passage, we see that they merely went about their lives, obeying the
authority that God had allowed to be over them.
To be obedient, Joseph probably lost many days at his job without
renumeration, and was forced to take his pregnant fiancée on a dangerous and
inconvenient journey-- just when she was due to give birth. He had to pay taxes
on a Child he hadn’t even fathered, as well as be forced to come back into the
midst of his tribal relations at a time when the child’s birth would surely
cause a scandal for him. And yet,
Scripture records that they simply obeyed. They didn’t rise up and call for
Caesar’s head on a platter, or offer disrespect to him, in any way. Was it
convenient for them? No. Did they have a lot of spare money? --Probably not.
Then why did they obey? Here they were; the ones God the Father had entrusted
with the Holy Messiah of the world—the One we had waited for, since Adam &
Eve’s expulsion from Eden; surely they had a right to rebel if anyone did. And yet---they did not. What
kept them silent and obedient?
They knew who really ruled the
world. And it wasn’t Caesar.
They knew and were in covenant with the God of Israel and
knew that all Authority is ultimately given to and taken from men by His decree
alone. No mere man could decree anything
at all on earth, unless God had first allowed it for some good purpose of His
own. (John 19:11) It was in this great Truth that they rested, found their
peace, and ultimately their strength. To
what ‘good purpose’ then, was Caesar’s decree issued; for his own glory? No, not for his glory--but for God’s. The
Scriptures declared that God’s Son
would come from Bethlehem. God was
willing, therefore, that ‘all the inhabited world’ should be
inconvenienced—including the Holy family-- in order
that the Scripture (His revealed Plan) be fulfilled… “…But as for you Bethlehem
Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go
forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from
the days of eternity…” (Micah 5:2) God keeps His Word..
Be at peace this
Christmas…..No one and nothing can or ever will thwart the Will and Plan of
God. Not Caesar, not Obama, not the
Republicans, not the Democrats, and not new taxes or inconveniences of any
kind…... God’s Will shall “be done in earth as it is in heaven” ---though our
limited understandings may not comprehend in this life why such painful
inconveniences are allowed to come upon
us as they do. No, we needn’t fear
anything at all, except our own hearts’ rebellion against the ONE who Truely
Does rule the world. In the light of
that thought, here then, is a warning for all our hearts this Christmas, from
Psalm 2:
“But as for me, (says
the Lord), I have installed MY
King--upon Zion, my Holy Mountain. I will surely tell of the DECREE of the
LORD: He said to Me, ‘Thou art My
Son…’…Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the
earth. Worship the LORD with reverence… Do homage to the Son, lest He become
angry, and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. How
blessed are all who take refuge in Him…” (Psalm 2: 6-7a,10-12)
Merry
Christmas----“Let earth, receive her KING…”
Joann
Longton
