Luke 2:1-7

The book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1 to 7 for our text and study this morning. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, under the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary, his espionage. wife being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. May God bless to us His sacred and holy word this morning. There was a South African diamond miner who happened to find one of the world’s largest diamonds. It was the size of a small lemon. He had a problem, though. He wanted to get it back to the main office, which was in London, England, and he happened to be in South Africa. So he bought. a steel box hired four men to escort this box on the ship all the way back to London, England. When the steel box was put in the safe on the ship, two men armed were always beside it, the safe, watching out and make sure that nothing happened. When the box was opened in the box was opened in the safe, London all was in it was a lump of coal three days later a plain brown package came to the shipping office there at the diamond company and when they opened it inside was this huge diamond the owner assumed correctly that most people wouldn’t pay attention to an ordinary cardboard box whereas they had everybody might think about how they could steal or get to that steel box and open it up and steal the diamond. So he used plain packaging to get the diamond home. Our text indicates that when the Son of God came into this world, it was not with pomp in circumstance. He came in an ordinary package. Not with royal. honor, but in a very humble fashion. He came in these verses indicate to us the birth of the incarnate son of God. He came to this earth from heaven and he had a birth that was unique in this sense. It was God. manifested in the flesh. But you would never know it by looking at how Christ was born. There’s nothing to grab your attention that the King of Kings has now arrived in this world, not from this account that we have here. It takes divine revelation to reveal that. Let me begin, as we look at this text, by talking about the time when Christ was born, verses 1 and 2. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. These were the days of the Roman Empire. And we read about Augustus and Cyrenius. Augustus here is Caesar, Augustus, who was was the second emperor of the Roman Empire. He is a renowned place in the history of Rome. He was the grand nephew of Julius Caesar and actually the adopted son of Caesar. To his name, Octavius, was added the title, Augustus. To emphasize his grandeur, his majesty, and his honor, the name, narrow one, the sublime one, the majestic one. It is more or less a divine type of title. It seems that our month, August, is named after Augustus. July is named after his father, Julius Caesar. Now, the Emperor Augustus issued a decree that all the world here, and by all the world, he means, which was the known world, the Roman Empire, those under his authority, should be taxed. The word taxed here literally means registered and rolled, put on the tax rolls, in order to impose a tax upon them. It was usual for Roman governments to order a census and territories that they had conquered and they would extract money. they would get their taxes from this. Now, this registration for the taxation, as it related to the Jewish nation, took place, we’re told, under Cyrenius, the governor of Syria. There’s something to consider here. Some have suggested that the decree of Caesar Augustus in verse 1 refers to the census itself, and the actual paying of the tax took place under Syracus. Syrenius, as we see it was made, it says, under Cyrenius, who was the governor of Syria. So that, in other words, there was somewhat of a time lapse between the two events here. At any rate, you’ll notice how precise Luke is in telling us the time that Christ was born. This is the historical framework of the birth of Christ. Now, in the birth of Christ. this we should recognize that we have a fulfillment of prophecy. The Apostle Paul calls this period when Christ entered the world the fullness of time in the book of Galatians chapter 4 and verse 4. Paul is referring to a time that has been fixed in Old Testament prophecy. It has now come to that point. In particular, the prophet Daniel is given the specific time in which the Messiah was going to be born or come into this world. In Daniel Chapter 2, we have the prophecy, you recall, the metallic image that Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about. And in that metallic image, there were four, metals that were composing this image. The head was of gold, you recall. Well, but referred to four empires. The golden empire of Babylon, the silver empire of Media, Persia, the brass empire of Greece, and the iron empire of Rome. If you read through the book of Daniel carefully, notice that he tells you who the head of gold is. It’s Babylon. He then tells you who takes over Babylon, which is the Meads and the Persians, who conquer and take over. And if you read carefully enough, you’ll notice that Greece is also mentioned in Chapter 8 as the conquer of the Medes and Persians and one of the visions that is given. And, of course, the final, the fourth empire that will follow would be the Roman Empire. Now, in the days of the kings of the Fourth Empire, according to Daniel 2 in verse 44, God is going to raise up his kingdom. An everlasting kingdom. And remember in the vision, the stone that was cut without hands from the mountain crushes this image. and topples all these metals, so to speak, that make up this image and grinds in the powder. They’re basically wiped off the scene. And Christ, as the stone, grows and he fills the earth. His whole kingdom will fill the earth. That’s the picture. But I mentioned that because it was in the days of the Roman Empire and Caesar Augustus here in particular, that Christ, was born exactly as Daniel had prophesied. If you go a little further in Daniel, chapter 9, when we get to the 70 weeks prophecy, you will see a specific timetable for Messiah the prince’s arrival and his office and work. I can’t go into the details of it. But the 70 weeks are really 70 heptads or divisions of 7s. 707s, which end up being weeks or 490 years. And it’s divided into the three parts. First, there’s the seven weeks for the rebuilding from the decree of Cyrus to restore and build and build Jerusalem which took place under Ezra and Nehemiah. There was 49 years allotted from that time of that decree. To the coming of the Messiah, there would be another 62 weeks, we’re told. So that’s 62 and 7, 69 weeks. 483 years. Until the appearance of the Messiah. And here we would understand that is probably his public ministry. would begin. When he became publicly known, undertook his ministry. The last week was for his work. In the midst of the week, he’s cut off sometime during that week, we’re told, after the 69 weeks. Now, I mention all this, and without going into all the details and all the things that are related to this, even if you couldn’t do all these calculations. What this tells us is this. That 483 years after Cyrus, after Cyrus’s decree, Christ’s public ministry is going to begin. So even if you couldn’t do all the calculations, you have a pretty good time frame for when the Messiah is going to make his appearance. And we see here, this is exactly what happens. here in scripture, that he fulfills that prophecy as it is related in the book of Daniel. So it is the days of the Roman Empire, and this is why it is the days of the Roman Empire, and why at this particular time that he is born. Now let me make a couple of practical observations here on this. The God wisely decides the best time for everything in your life. Every aspect of Christ’s life has been carefully and wisely ordered by the Lord. Let your soul rest on that thought that God determines all the times of your life. The Psalmist put it this way in Psalm 31. But I trusted in thee, O Lord, I said, Thou art my life. God, my times are in thy hand. Solomon indicates to us there’s a time to be born and there’s a time to die. A time to break down, a time to build up, a time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to mourn, time to dance, a time to get, a time to lose, a time to keep silent, a time to speak, a time for war, a time of peace, and so forth. What this tells us is that all these things are in God’s hands, and therefore, we should learn not to give way to anxiety, but trust that your times, whether they appear to be good or bad, are coming from the Lord. The reformer Martin Luther once had to calm his anxious friend and co-worker, Philip Melanchthon, cease Philip, he said, to try to govern the world. You can’t do it. God governs the world. There’s wisdom in Luther’s words for all of us, and realize that our times are wisely decided by the Lord. Now, also, you should realize how precisely God fulfills his word. This passage confirms the fact that whatever God is promised comes to pass. This passage indicates to us that everything prophesied in Daniel is full. fill to the letter, every jot and tittle of what is laid out for us there. If you’re an unbeliever, that ought to make you fearful. Because the Bible says that God always keeps his promises, and he that believeth not, scripture says, shall be damned. What God’s word says about hell and eternal damnation is sure and certain to come to pass. You should fear him that has the power to cast into hell all who reject Christ. That’s no idle threat. If you are a believer, you should find comfort in the fact that God always fulfills his word also. Because all those divine promises found in Christ are sure and certain to be yours. The internal inheritance that we have is not imaginary. He that believeth in Christ should not perish but have everlasting life is the message of Scripture. So the time when Christ was born is the exact time that God laid out in Scripture. Now, secondly, we see the place that he was born in verses 3 to 5. It all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea under the city of David, which is called Bethleham because he was a house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. Where we have Bethlehem of Judea mentioned. If Joseph and Mary were not compelled by the decree of Caesar to go to Bethlehem. Jesus would have been born in Nazareth, in Galilee, where they resided. However, scripture tells us that Jesus has to be born in Bethlehem. According to Micah 5-2, even the scribes and the Pharisees knew that as Matthew 2, when Herod asked him, where is the Messiah to be born? They looked it up. They knew it was in Bethlehem. Bethlehem. city of David, where this great king was born. Isn’t it interesting that Bethlehem is known as the house of bread? That’s what it means. And here comes the bread of life into the world. So what more appropriate place than Bethlehem. Now, what is amazing is how God’s providence brought this all to pass. How God moved everything at the right time to have them in Bethleh. Suppose this month, this taxation, they were required to go months before this. They may have gotten there and got the taxation taken care of and got back to Nazareth, but it had to be at that time when she was great with child. Caesar’s taxation required everyone in Judea, Galilee, and Syria, men, women, and children, to go to the city where they were born. remember, since the days of Joshua, all Israel were divided in the tribes, remember? And they were given an inheritance in Canaan. And Joseph and Mary, both being of the tribe of Judah, had to travel south from Galilee, to reach this location. Being of the house and lineage of David, here, being of the royal line, they were required by Caesar’s decree to go to his hometown, so to speak, Bethlehem. Now, this was a very inconvenient trip for Mary. You imagine being great with child is very difficult to undertake. The overruling providence of God appears, however, in all this, moving the king’s heart to make the decree to his whole kingdom so that this would occur at this particular occasion so that Mary would be in Bethlehem. Little did the Roman emperor and his officer Cyrenius know that they were instruments of God in this matter. They had no thought about this. Little did Mary perhaps realize why she was suddenly drawn contrary to her own intention to Bethlehem. It was the last thing she’d probably want to do is travel in her condition. But there they are. at Bethlehem when Christ is born. Let me make this practical observation. You find God’s great providence governing all the events of this world. You know, the worldling has no idea that every step in his life is being governed by God. And man’s heart devises his way. But the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16 and verse 9. It makes no difference whether you are Caesar or whether you’re a poor carpenter living in an obscure place in Galilee. It doesn’t matter. God is in control of the circumstances of everyone’s life. He’s directing all things for his wise, and the words of the words of Isaiah, the failure of men to perceive this truth. We read about the Assyrian king. He meaneth not so. Neither does his heart think so. The Assyrian king didn’t realize he was being God’s axe to judge Israel. He had no clue. He was just out there to conquer territory and accumulate wealth. God’s saying, I’m using him as my instrument. Caesar. Augustus is God’s instrument here, used by God to accomplish his purpose. Now, if you’re an unbeliever, that ought to frighten you. If you live without an interest in God, because you may devise your own way in life, you may make your own plans, and you may think you’re living independently, you may think you’re the captain of your own ship, the controller of your own destiny. But I’ve got news for you. You never even comprehend the fact that God has directed every step that you’ve taken. And God may be working against you. To bring about your demise. To bring about your downfall. It’s interesting if you read the scriptures carefully. There are many times when we are told something of this nature. Look with me in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 2, verses 30 to 34. Deuteronomy chapter 2 verses 30 to 34. We read this. But Sehon, king of Heschbon, would not let us pass by him, for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heartened his heartened his spirit and made his heart, him into thy hand as appeareth this day. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Syhon and his land before thee, begin to possess that thou mayest inherit his land. Then Scyon came out against us, he and all his people, the fighted Jahaz. And the Lord, our God, delivered him before us, and we smote him and his sons and all his people. And we took all his cities at that time. and utterly destroyed the men, the women, the little children, the little ones of every city, and we left none to remain. Did the king of Hesbun know that this was God’s hand in this? Did he have a clue? No. But this is what God was working to this end. Look with me at Joshua, chapter 11, verses 18 to 20. Chua chapter 11. Verses 18 to 20. Read these words. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a king that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hevites, the inhabitants of Gibian, all other they took in battle for, it was of the Lord to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle that he might destroy them utterly. And that they would be. might have no favor, but that he might destroy them as the Lord commanded Malsus. Look at 2, or excuse me, 1 Samuel, chapter 2 and verse 22. 1 Samuel chapter 2, verses 22 to 25. Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto Israel and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. and he said of them, why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings with by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear. You make the Lord’s people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord who shall entreat for him, notwithstanding, they hearken not under the voice of their father because the Lord would slay them. Look at me at 2 Samuel 17 now. 2nd Samuel 17 and verse 14. In Absalom and all the men of Israel said, the council of Hushai, the archite, is better than the council of Ahithrafel, for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good council of Ahithafel to the intent that the Lord might be. bring evil upon Absalom. And then one more passage in 2th Thessalonians chapter 2, if you would, in verses 11 and 12. 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 and verses 11 and 12. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteous. my friends when it comes to the wicked God has set their feet in slippery places here they don’t even know the danger that they’re in does any of this alarm you because we see that the reprobate should realize that they are made for the day of evil according to scripture perhaps you don’t know where you stand with the Lord will the message to you is to repent or you will perish now as a believer god’s secret providence is there to comfort you and to help you one day c h spurgeon was traveling through the busy streets of london driven there by one of his friends in a four-wheel chase his friend was a good driver but he had to drive through narrow places and dart in and out through all the traffic which was heavy and it seems at times at least to Spurgeon that they were going to be crushed by the vans and the on the buses and Spurgeon was frightened. Alarmed Spurgeon complained to his friend about his driving in the near misses that they had. The friend pulled the chase off to the side of the road. His friend with a smile placed the reins in Spurgeon’s hands and said if you can if you cannot trust me would you like to drive yourself. Spurgeon’s assured his friend that he didn’t want to drive on those streets and he handed the reins back. Don’t give me the reins. I don’t want them. Surely our great God might well make the same proposal to us when we complain about his providence. If you can’t trust him, do you think you could manage better? Man’s goings of the Lord. How can a man’s goings of the Lord? How can a man then understand his own ways. Proverbs 20, 24. Mary may not comprehend in her delicate condition why she ends up in Bethlehem, but she has to trust in God’s providence. Be aware that your goings are of the Lord, that he is directing all things as a believer for you for your good. You may not understand what God is doing, but rest in his providence. Do not be greatly moved or disturbed, even when it seems that God’s providence is working at cross purposes against you, at least against your desires. After all, do you think you can direct things better than God? Would you want to be the driver? So the place where Christ was born is laid out for us. And here we see something about the providence of God. Lastly, The circumstances in which Christ was born, verse 6 and 7. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end. Look at the humble circumstances in which Christ was born. While at Bethlehem, she gives birth, not in some swanky, hotel, not in some palace somewhere, but her firstborn is born, basically, and kept in a stable. The babies laid in a manger, a feeding trough. The great influx of people to Bavillah or to Bethlehem at this time because of Caesar’s decree crowded the city and they had no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph. It’s her first. born and she wraps them in swaddling clothes just as any other baby would be wrapped. And so they lodge at the stable. At least they have some shelter there. Here you see the grace and the condescension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Born as of poor circumstances as you can imagine. Being rich in the glorious abode of heaven above, of heaven above, He became poor, as lowly as the lowest among mankind. We should never forget this humiliation of Christ was for the purpose of providing eternal life for you and I as his people. All his life, he was poor for your sake. He didn’t have a place to lay his head. From the moment of his birth, until his death, he walked as a poor man, humble man on this earth. Now the humiliation of Christ should help you to endure those times when you feel abased in this life. There may be times when God in his wisdom brings you in a very poor state financially. Christianity does not promise you wealth and prosperity of this world. You may find yourself in very humble circumstances. Many of the saints of God do. You read Hebrews 11. You read about them living in caves and so forth. The tendency of human beings is to complain and think hard thoughts about God. How could he do this to me? But, Isn’t this part of being conform to Christ? Are there not spiritual lessons to be learned through poverty? Your Savior endured great poverty to save you, and this should enable you to endure being poor if necessary for his sake. I like how Paul places, states this in the book of Philippians chapter 4 and verses 10 to 12, if you want to turn there with me. Philippians chapter 4, verses 10 to 12. He says this, But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, and now at the last, your care of me, having flourished again, wherein ye were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect to one, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and the suffer need. Conditions are always changing in this life. We may have good times. We may have bad times. You must be willing to accept the situations in which God’s providence places you and be content. You must believe that He has always, Even abasement, even when we’re suffering poverty, it has a good purpose and endure it then with a good attitude. You should endure it thinking of your Savior’s poverty and learn to find joy and contentment in your relationship with your Savior whether you have anything of earthly wealth or not. Because there’s, true treasurer is not in the things of this world, but in the spiritual things that God gives us. One learns contentment through a state sometimes of poverty. It is a normal means by which sometimes God teaches us contentment. So here are the circumstances in which Christ was born. Let me close by saying this. The South African diamond miner sent the world’s largest diamond back to England an ordinary package. Well, the King of Kings came into this world not with pomp and circumstance, but in an ordinary package, so to speak, and very common circumstances. In fact, maybe even worse than common because of the poverty in which he was born. Let us learn from this that God, wisely determines the best time for everything, how precisely God governs all of this world by his providence, and how he fulfills his word down to the letter. And the humiliation of Christ, let it be something that teaches us to be humble and accept poor circumstances in our own life. Let us close with prayer. Heavenly Father, we bow before you knowing that you sent Christ to save us. We see, Father, how in this text of Scripture you are fulfilling your word. Yet you do it in such a way, Father, that you show us lessons even for ourselves. We pray that you bless us as we think about Christ coming into the world. And may we read us. rejoice in the spiritual riches we possess, while we may not have much of this world’s goods. We ask these things in Christ’s name. Amen. Now, if you would, before we come to the Lord’s table, let me direct your attention briefly to the Song of Solomon, Chapter 1, once again.