Christmas Morning: Son Rise on a New DaySample

Fairy tales begin, “Once upon a time.” Star Wars begins, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” But Luke’s Gospel begins, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.” (Luke 2:1-2) The public phase of Jesus’ ministry is time stamped with this statement, “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:1-2)

The difference between fairy tales/Star Wars and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is evident. The fictional accounts share nondescript times and places as the canvas on which to paint pictures of characters they invent from their imaginations. Since Jesus really exists and really came into the world, the events of His life are verifiable, and we should expect corroborating historical markers.

The details of Luke 2:1-2 help us understand when Jesus was born. By triangulating the era when Caesar Augustus was reigning over the Roman Empire, when a registration was called for, and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, we are able to place the birth of Jesus in the correct historical context. And by using the details of Luke 3:1-2, we are able to ascertain that Jesus began His public ministry when He was roughly 30 years old.

And why does this matter? Because we are real people, living in a real world, with real “wages” that our sins deserve, we need more than a fairy tale Messiah to inspire us. We need a flesh-and-blood Savior to really enter into our world, really die on the cross, and really rise from the dead. Jesus really did all these things, so if we trust in Him, we will be saved from the consequences of our sins and promised everlasting life. Really.

So let’s really trust Him with our real lives.