Those Days...

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered." (Luke 2:1 ESV)

Luke begins his nativity account with remarkable historical precision. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones observes that this seemingly mundane detail reveals the divine orchestration behind Christ's birth.

Luke deliberately mentions Caesar Augustus—the most powerful human ruler of that era, whose decree affected "all the world" (the known Roman Empire). Yet this seemingly omnipotent emperor unwittingly serves God's purposes, issuing a decree that brings Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem precisely where prophecy declared the Messiah would be born.

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Luke's historical framing does more than establish chronology—it reveals the collision of two kingdoms. Caesar represents human power at its zenith, yet he unknowingly fulfills divine prophecies made centuries earlier. The true eternal kingdom arrived not with political fanfare in Rome but with angelic announcements in Bethlehem. Not through military conquest but through spiritual transformation.

The Gospel writers consistently present Jesus' birth as occurring "in the fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4)—at the precise historical moment God ordained. Roman roads facilitated travel, Roman peace ensured stability, and Roman census requirements positioned Mary in Bethlehem exactly when she needed to be there.

Lloyd-Jones draws our attention to the paradoxical nature of God's entrance into human history. The sovereign Lord of all submits to being counted in Caesar's census. The One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills finds no room at the inn. The eternal Word who spoke creation into existence becomes an infant unable to speak.

These apparent contradictions reveal the character of God's kingdom—one that operates not through domination but through humble service, not through visible power but through apparent weakness. While Rome built its empire through military might, God builds His kingdom through a helpless child. While Caesar imposed his will through legions, God accomplishes His purpose through love.

This Christmas, marvel at how God weaves human history to accomplish divine purposes. The seemingly ordinary circumstances surrounding Christ's birth—a government decree, a crowded town, a young couple far from home—become extraordinary when recognized as divinely orchestrated events fulfilling ancient promises. The historical specificity of the Gospel accounts assures us that our faith rests not on myths or legends but on God's actual entrance into human experience at a particular time and place.