NATIVITY By Mike Herron

Chapter 12: THE BIRTH OF JESUS - LUKE 2:1-7 (December 25th)

atthew depicts Jesus as a King and at his birth the reigning Herod trembles on his throne and the Magi adore him, offering regal gifts.’ 1 Luke presents a much humbler picture of the birth of the Messiah.

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a

census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

After 500 years of a Senate-ruled Republican form of Government, Augustus Caesar became the sole leader of the Roman Empire in 27 B.C. Born Gaius Octavian, he was the adopted son and designated heir of Julius Caesar. The veneration of Augustus is recorded in an ancient inscription: ‘Divine Augustus Caesar, son of a god, imperator of land and sea, the benefactor and savior of the whole world…’ 2 ‘The Roman empire extended itself further than ever before or since, including Parthia (modern Iran) one way, and Britain another way; so that it was then called Terraram orbis imperium— The empire of the whole earth …’ 3 The opulence and wealth surrounding Augustus was in sharp contrast to the birth of Jesus, the true Son of God and savior of the world. Daniel’s prophecy would be fulfilled in the manger of Bethlehem. ‘ During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.’ (Dan 2:44) 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. This was the first empire-wide census enacted by Rome. ‘ Such censuses were taken every fourteen years…The Jews were