To Read: Luke 2:1-7
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
We now look to the birth narrative from Luke. The whole first chapter is about the prophecy and birth of John the Baptist, the one who paved the way for Jesus in his public ministry. As we’re close to Christmas, we’ll have to skip ahead to chapter 2, the text you will hear read more commonly than the one in Matthew, and the one that will be the basis for our Christmas Eve service.
Notice that Luke says that “all the world” should be registered by Caesar’s decree, but of course what is meant here is the Roman world, a vast empire spanning around much of the Mediterranean Sea. I have often argued that Luke 2:2 is perhaps the most boring verse in all the Bible. But it’s an important one. It adds nothing to the narrative interest of the story. It’s not exciting, it’s not dramatic, so what is it? It’s historical record given to the reader for the purpose of verification, and that is of massive importance. Luke, who aimed to write an “orderly account” of the life of Jesus (Luke 1:3), would write for the purpose of showing the non-believer, this is a true story, the object of which will change your life. This census was a real, historical event – and to add to that verification, this detail about who was governor in what region is given for that purpose – to go and ask. To locate this birth in real time and space. The public nature of the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus is crucial to its evangelism – none of this “happened in a corner” (Acts 26). If this were a false story, the writers would have adopted ways to prevent historical investigation, like in Islam and in Mormonism, who both have revelations that are given entirely in secret, the receiving prophet being one man who saw a vision in a secret space. Not so with Christianity. It is all there for you to historically review.
The fact that there was no room for them at the inn is probably due to the census. People would have come to Bethlehem who don’t live their currently, who have come to their ancestral home – and many of them would be staying at the inn. And certainly there are no Motel 6’s in town – this inn would have only accommodated a few – they had nowhere to go, so they find themselves amidst God’s creation in the humblest estate they can find – the perfect spot to give birth to the Suffering Servant, the Messiah.
Song to Listen To: Coventry Carol
This song is the most haunting of them all – a beautiful song from the 17th century. It is about the murder of the innocents by the awful Herod – and you can hear the despair and the hope of Christmas in the song. Give it a listen and pick a version by a choir – it’s the best way to hear it done well.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for preserving the Christmas story in Your Word. We thank you that it isn’t just blind faith that we’re called to, but rather a faith informed by the events of the past – a real human history of which we are a part; a history that you broke into, Jesus, and were so present that people could not deny you after they saw your full life – your ministry, death and resurrection. They couldn’t deny you, and neither shall we – your Word, your world, your history, your church and the Holy Spirit testify to your presence. Be with us always. In your name. Amen.
Echoes of Eden: The single greatest kids Christmas video. Check it out here.