Caesar

Caesar Augustus ruled over the Roman Empire at the time Jesus was born. Augustus was Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar. He was awarded the title Augustus by the Roman Senate; the title meant “revered” and implied that its bearer was divine. While he had the power of a dictator, Augustus styled himself the “First Citizen.” He ruled from 27 BC to AD 14.

Realizing that some areas of the empire required a military presence, Augustus placed Roman troops in volatile Palestine (which included Judea, Galilee, Samaria, Idumea, and lesser entities). He is the one who put in motion the tax cycle that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1). At the time of his death, Augustus was admired by the Romans for bringing peace and prosperity to the empire.

While Caesar has an indirect role in the birth of Christ, his presence in the account invites us to reflect on the plan of God in relation to those in power. The sovereignty of God rules the kings of the earth. “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21:1 NASB).

Micah had prophesied that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). By issuing the order that a census be taken throughout the Roman Empire, Augustus provided the reason for Mary and Joseph to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And there the Word of the Lord was proved true. There is a mystery in how God’s providence shapes the choices of human agents, but the lesson is that God fulfills His purposes according to His Word.

Those in positions of political or financial power may not realize it, but ultimately they serve God’s purposes. Rulers may be a blessing or a threat to God’s people, but God rules over the nations (see Rom. 13:1–7). The persons in power are not as powerful as they may think.

Augustus Caesar was deified by decree of the Roman senate after his death. The divinity that had been previously implied was now made explicit. One of the early church’s greatest challenges was a test of loyalty. The state wanted its citizens to declare “Caesar is Lord.” Faithful Christians chose to say only, “Jesus is Lord.”

 See: Bethlehem, John the Baptist

Christmas

A Word

Let’s think first of Christmas as a word. The English word Christmas dates from before the twelfth century. In Old English it was two words, Christes maesse, and in Middle English, Christemasse. Literally it meant “Christ’s mass” and referred to the special worship service held on December 25 in honor of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Christmas” as cited in Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828, reads: “[Christ and mass] The festival of the christian church observed annually on the 25th day of December, in memory of the birth of Christ” (spelling follows the original citation).

That the first syllable of Christmas comes from the word “Christ” is indisputable. In Greek the name Christ is χριστός (christos). The first letter looks like the English letter X. Every vocation has its shorthand, and those in the church used the letter chi (χ) to represent Christ in words that began with “Christ-.” So “Xmas” is an honorable abbreviation for Christmas. It was not intended to take Christ out of Christmas (although in these politically correct days some want to do just that).

A Season

Now consider Christmas as a season. In terms of the economy, the Christmas season begins right after Labor Day, when trees and decorations appear in the big box stores. It used to start after Thanksgiving. Whenever the season starts, it points to December 25.

The best reason historians can offer for observing Christmas on December 25 is that it was the day the Romans celebrated the “birthday of the unconquered sun,” following the Saturnalia festival (December 17–24). The longer days following the winter solstice were significant in a world lit only by fire. In the mid–fourth century, the Roman church imposed a Christian celebration over the pagan day, calling it the Feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness (part of the name was taken from Malachi 4:2).

Initially the Church celebrated the birth of Christ, the coming of the shepherds, and the adoration of the Magi on January 6, a day also associated with the Lord’s baptism. By AD 336, December 25 was recognized in Rome as the day of Christ’s birth (although December 25 was in use by the early 200s). By the sixth century, the entire Western Church had moved the celebration of the nativity to December 25, along with the shepherds’ visit and adoration of the Magi. The Eastern Church continues to link the adoration of the wise men with Epiphany, January 6. Jesus might have been born in late December or early January, but we can’t know for sure.

Over time, Christmas became a festive season that lasted until Epiphany, giving us the twelve days of Christmas (the twelve days begin with the day after Christmas). For Christians, the giving and receiving of gifts follows the example of the Magi. The use of lights reflects both the increasing natural light of the time of year and the growing spiritual light of Christ, who is the Light of the World.

Some Christmas customs in the United States come from European traditions, such as decorating with greens and enjoying a feast (or two). The Puritan settlers in New England took a dim view of Christmas, in part because it had been marked by drunkenness in the mother country. So Christmas was banned in Massachusetts by law and violators were fined five shillings.

Given today’s climate of political correctness, there is annual debate about what greeting to use during the season: “Happy Holidays!” or “Season’s Greetings!” instead of “Merry Christmas!” Schools have had to change their Christmas Concert to a Winter Celebration. Followers of Jesus will use the vocabulary that best expresses the spiritual truth of the season.

A Historic Event

Christmas is also a historic event. By AD 120 Roman historians mention “Christ” several times but without detail. His crucifixion is specifically mentioned. Since he died, obviously Jesus was born. His birth in Bethlehem, to a virgin mother, was the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Mary and Joseph made the trip to Bethlehem to register for Caesar’s census, decreed by the governor of Syria (Luke 2:1–2). There is no record of a universal census under Augustus, but during his reign, he required a census in many parts of the empire, and the decree mentioned by Luke may have been specifically to include the Jews. A Jewish census would have required returning to a family’s roots. God shapes human events, and a ruler’s decree was the means by which God kept His Word.

The tale of the mean innkeeper who refused Mary and Joseph a room and forced them into a cave or barn is woven into the fabric of the Christmas story, but it isn’t true. Bethlehem would have been crowded with people registering for the census, and most visitors would have stayed with relatives. The word inn in Luke 2:7 is an unfortunate translation; it would be better rendered “guest room.” Probably Bethlehem did not have a “motel” or inn because it was off the main trade routes.

In those days most families kept animals in the lower level of the house; thus a manger would be a normal furnishing there. The lower level was divided, animals on one side, the family sleeping space on the other. Since the guest room was full, Mary probably gave birth in that lower level room and used the manger as Jesus’ cradle.

Herod the Great was king in Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth. One of Herod’s final atrocities was to have the boys under age two in Bethlehem put to the sword (Matt. 2:16). The Jews considered a child who reached the age of one to be two years old (first “year” in the womb). Herod died between 4 and 1 BC, so Jesus had to have been born at least a year before Herod’s death.

Luke tells us that the shepherds were with their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem (2:8). Normally sheep would be in pasture from spring to fall, but near Bethlehem sheep may have been outdoors in wintertime as well. If so, it is possible that Jesus was born in December in a year prior to 1 BC, but this cannot be proven.

A Spiritual Experience

Most important, Christmas should be a spiritual experience. Jesus came to earth to save sinners (Matt. 1:21). The angel’s announcement to the shepherds was “for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Christmas is not just an event in time; it is a spiritual experience available to every person who hears the gospel. Jesus was physically born in Bethlehem so He could be spiritually born in the hearts of those who believe in Him. Jesus is God’s gift to the human race.

John tells us that Jesus “came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11–12 NASB). Jesus still looks for those who will receive Him. Receiving Jesus means believing that He is God’s Son who became human, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and rose to live forever. Receiving Jesus means receiving the gift of salvation. That is the experience of Christmas.

When we are born again, we begin a new kind of life. Knowing Jesus as Savior brings joy to our heart, peace to our mind, and worship to our soul. Being a follower of Jesus gives purpose and meaning to life. Because Jesus meets our needs, we are able to serve others in His name. He understands what it’s like to grow up, work hard, be hungry, experience pain, and die. Jesus makes our ultimate destiny sure: His presence in heaven in a glorified human body is the guarantee that redeemed humans will one day be there with Him.

Have you received the gift of salvation?

O holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in,

Be born in us today.

Phillips Brooks

 See: Bethlehem, Caesar, Epiphany, Herod the Great, Inn, Innocents, Manger, Wise Men, Xmas