Down to Earth: A Christmas Devotional JourneySample

Day 2: Who’s In Charge Round Here?

Gaius Octavius was the first emperor of Rome. When he began his rule, he took the name ‘Augustus’ – a symbolic gesture of power and authority. The word was connected to the practice of augury or the interpretation of the will of the gods. The most powerful man in the world was claiming to have a direct line to the gods. There’s no doubt who Caesar Augustus thought was in charge – indeed, after his death, he was formally declared a god himself.

If you lived in the province of Judea at the time, you knew the Romans were in charge. The census reinforced this through sheer force of bureaucracy – who else but the mighty Romans could count the population of the whole Mediterranean world? With his mind on bigger things, it's unlikely Augustus would have thought much about Bethlehem, despite its notable history as King David’s birthplace. It was just one more place where this conquered people must register in the census.

But here’s the thing. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. And although some prophecies point to the Messiah being referred to as a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23), they also said He’d be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). And Caesar orders a census that brings them to Bethlehem, just in time for Jesus to be born.

So, who’s really in charge?

Not only does our God come down to Earth to save us, He uses down-to-earth means to do so. In his palace in Rome, Caesar might rule over his empire. But in a manger in Bethlehem lies the One who rules over emperors.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in all I face today, help me to remember that You rule. Help me to remember that in every circumstance, You are ultimately the One in charge. Amen.