Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wisdom from the Christmas Story



 “…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 fiancĂ©e 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