Luke 2__1-14 Caesar or Jesus
Christmas 2007 December 25, 2007
"Caesar or Jesus"
Introduction
As Luke tells the story of Jesus’ birth he relates the story of 3 Kings. No, I’m not talking here about the visit of the Magi, the Wisemen from the East. I refer to 3 better known kings: King Jesus, Caesar and Herod the Great. Luke, by referring to Herod and Caesar August firmly establishes the time in history when Jesus’ birth took place. He relates a real historical event. He tells the story of a brutal tyrant, Herod the Great who made the first Christmas hideous with the slaughter of innocent children.
Luke also tells of Caesar Augustus and Tiberius Caesar. These earthly Caesars, earthly kings, were celebrated as bringing peace on earth through military might. The general Octavian, defeated Mark Antony in a naval battle that ended a civil war and established Octavian as ruler of the Roman Empire, named Caesar Augustus beginning a period of peace. It was also the beginning of the Pagan Emperor’s cult in which prayers were offered not only for, but to the divine Caesar, blessed by the gods with military victory and able to establish the Pax Romana, the Peace of Rome.
Church and state became one in first century Roman Empire - as the cult of the emperor increased to the point where near the end of the first century Nero could proclaim that he was a god, it became treasonous in the empire to not participate in the religious rites and especially to affirm that there was only one God.
In the 19th and much of the 20th centuries it was popular in many universities, seminaries and even in pulpits for Christian teachers to refer to the birth stories as myth. As time has moved on we have the results of nearly two centuries of archaeological research that explains many of the references in the Bible to places and events. In 2004 John Dominic Crossan wrote "In Search of St. Paul." Crossan retraced the steps of Paul around the Mediterranean Sea, investigating the archaeological digs and verifying and explaining the times and places that Paul visited. He makes the Scriptures come alive for us making it clearer what it meant to live as a Christian under the rule of the Roman Caesars. (2)
Luke places the birth of Jesus in the days when Herod was a puppet king of Judah under the rule of Caesar Augustus who wanted a census of everyone living in the empire at a time when Quirinius was governor of Syria. This caused Joseph and Mary to make the journey to Bethlehem in order to comply with Caesar’s demand.
John Dominic Crossan in his book has a chapter about "two savior kings." One is Caesar and the other is Jesus. Crossan refers to archaeolgoical finds such as statuary, plaques, inscriptions on public buildings, and literature
and gives us great detail about how the emperor cult caused statues and altars to the emperor to be established in cities across Europe and the Mideast. He quotes from an ordinance in one of the cities in Greece that during the reign of Tiberius (Caesar when John the Baptist was preaching according to Luke 3) there was to be a five day festival including food, prayers, sacrifices, reading of the law, erection of a stone monument,sporting games and musical performances honoring the royal family. . .the caesars.
"The chief of the market place (our equivalent of a shopping mall) shall celebrate the first day of the god Caesar Augustus, son of the god, our Savior and Deliverer: the second day for the emperor (Tibeerius Caesar Augustus, father of the fatherland; the third day for Julia Augusta, the Fortune of our nation and the city; the fourth day (of Victory) for Germanicus Caesar; the fifth day (of Aphrodite) for Drusus Caesar; and the sixth day for Titus Quinctius Flaminius. . . ."
Luke and the other Gospel writers knew what they were doing when they refered to Jesus as King of the Jews. That is why Luke makes clear that the birth of the King of the Jews, the Divine Son of God, was at a to time when the Caesars reigned. The symbol of a star announcing that the light of heaven had entered this earth made dark by calling Caesar god was not an accident. The Magi made their trek not to Rome to visit the divine caesar, but to ancient holy Jerusalem and thence to Bethelehem - the house of bread where the Bread of Life, the Bread come down from Heaven would appear.
Within the Roman Empire everyone knew that Caesar claimed for himself the title, "Savior of the World." He boasted that he ruled the entire world; therefore he demanded that all acknowledge him as king and ruler. Unknown to him, in the year 4 B.C., a rival was born, Someone Who also claimed to be Savior and King.
On this Christmas Day, Luke is an evangelist calling us to make a choice between the two saviors and two kings of Christmas. Who is our savior: Caesar or Jesus? Who is our king: Caesar or Jesus?
I The Two Saviors
At At the time of Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C. the Roman Empire was filled with discouraged, dispirited, and confused people. This confusion, despair, and discouragement was the end product of many years of warfare and destruction and turmoil.
The conquered peoples did not know who or what to believe in anymore. Back then each nation had its own gods on whom it depended. When a nation lost a war, that meant their gods had either forsaken them or were not powerful anymore. The Roman Empire was filled with conquered people. So these people had no gods left. And without the gods, on whom would they depend, to whom could they look? No wonder these people were discouraged, dispirited, and confused.
B Augustus, who was a very ambitious man, planned to change all this. He decided to provide the security these despairing people needed after the loss of their gods. He would give them a new way of life, a new world order. He would give them the order and peace and justice of Rome. Augustus asked the conquered peoples to forget about their gods û who had not been able to help them anyway û and to depend on the new Roman order, that way of life of which he, Caesar Augustus, was the symbol. Worship Augustus, hail Caesar, and he will provide peace and prosperity! Augustus proposed a new world-wide religion, the worship of the Caesars of Rome.
To achieve this, to bring all the world to his feet in worship, Caesar ordered a census to be taken of all the people and nations under his rule. This was the first step in establishing the new world order. This was the first step in getting all people to worship Caesar.
Augustus proclaimed himself as the savior of the world’s discouraged, dispirited, and confused people. He was going to save the world by his brilliant politics, his careful administration, his powerful military, his excellent economics, and by the beauty and magnificence of Roman culture.
In later years Augustus was remembered as the Emperor who had pacified the world. His victories put an end to the civil wars that had ravaged the Roman realms after the assassination of Julius Caesar. In the Roman Forum there was a shrine of the pagan god Janus; this shrine always stood open in times of war; thanks to Augustus the doors of the shrine were at last able to be closed. The "pax Romana," the peace of Rome, brought by Augustus marked the start of a glorious age of pastoral rule over a peaceful world. To symbolize this, there was erected around 13 B.C. a great altar to the peace brought about by Augustus. Caesar’s birthday was a holiday for the entire Empire and marked the new beginning of time.
The refrain heard as Caesar’s plan was being carried out, praised man and his greatness. The anthem that was sung said, "Glory to man in the highest."
People today still practice the religion of Caesar Augustus. People today still believe in the greatness of man. Man continues to look to himself, his abilities, his discoveries, for his own salvation. We still believe that peace can come through mighty armies.
As in Caesar’s day, men put their heads together and proclaim new orders and new saviors. Countries turn to the political right or the political left and propose their new leader and program to be the country’s salvation. People in Eastern Europe and the former U.S.S.R. overthrew their communist masters and looked to democracy and political freedom and capitalism for salvation; now some of them have switched back to the former communists. Scientists put their hope in some new discovery or achievement which will make life more meaningful for us all. Technologists propose the computer and the computer age as the key to happiness. Researchers look for the perfect cure, educators try to discover the perfect teaching model, and psychiatrists seek the key to the human psyche û all of this supposedly spells salvation and an end to despair.
Once again it is the old refrain: "Glory to man in the highest." Man can save himself. Man will create utopia, a perfect society, here on earth. The end to despair, the beginning of hope, is man himself.
Luke gives us a different message. Man can’t save himself. No Caesar, no political freedoms, no computer, no cure, and no discovery can spell an end to despair and the beginning of hope.
For hope and salvation, Luke directs us to "a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (vs 12). Luke comes with Good News that works; He comes with Good News that results in salvation: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you" (vs 11). This Savior’s name is not Caesar Augustus; rather, "he is Christ the Lord" (vs 11). His birth meant "peace to men favored by God" (vs 14). The testimony to His peace was not a manmade altar, such as was made to the "pax Romana"; rather, it was a heavenly host of angels that proclaimed "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (vs 14). His birthday, not Caesar’s, marks the new beginning of time.
How does this Savior operate? How is He going to save a dispirited, discouraged, confused people? He doesn’t do a census. He doesn’t send His legions into the world first. He doesn’t force Himself upon the people as savior. To put it simply, He dies upon the cross. This Savior brings hope and salvation through His blood and Spirit. He comes to earth as a man and dies upon the cross.
Caesar, as savior, brings peace for a short time after a brutal war. His plan of salvation comes to nothing. In time the oppressed rise up and civil wars, wars of liberation ends the forced harmony. As empires go, the Peace of Rome lasted a long time, approximatel 400 years.
Hitler’s 1000 year Reich lasted for less than a generation. The Pax Britannia lasted for 3 centuries. The Pax Americana, began when Teddy Roosevel sent the great white Fleet around the world a century ago. At present we see no day certain when American superiority ends. Its no Britannia, but America that rules the waves and the sky. But at what great price. Yes our military might brings peace, but at what a great price in suffering and bloody death.
But Christ, He as Savior is the one who binds up the broken hearted and offers the Kingdom of peace.His plan of salvation works and results in redemption. Why? Because the salvation of Christ depends upon God. It is God Who works out salvation through the blood and Spirit of Christ. God can succeed where Caesar fails. Only God can save!
The anthem that echoes forth with this Savior, the refrain that is heard, does not praise man; rather, it praises God. In the heavens, says Luke, there was a multitude of angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest" (vs 14).
That’s the big difference between the two saviors and the two salvations: one brings praise to God, the other brings praise to man. No wonder that the salvation of Caesar fails whereas the salvation of Christ succeeds.
II The Two Kings
A Christmas is a story not only of two Saviors but also of two kings. The name of the one is "Caesar Augustus." That is not his real name, of course. It is a title that he took for himself. It means "The Exalted One."
Caesar is one of the great men of the world. He commands the thousands of the Roman legions; his is an empire that stretches to the far corners of the earth. His is power and might. Augustus commands and the whole world is on the road to be enrolled. People heed his every command and follow his every wish. Again we hear the ancient refrain being sung: "Glory to man in the highest."
On the other side is a little child born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is very significant to the Christmas story. It appears in all three parts of the Christmas story. Joseph went up to Bethlehem (vs 4). The angels announce that is where the Savior has been born (vs 11). And, we are told that the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem (vs 15,16). What is so important about Bethlehem? Just in case we don’t know, two times we are told that Bethlehem is "the town of David" (vs 4, 11). David, of course, is Israel’s greatest king. Furthermore, we are told that Joseph "belonged to the house and line of David" (vs 4). The prophet Micah tells us that the Messiah, the Christ, the King, is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem (Micah 5:1). Here is a clear statement, that Jesus is the new-born King.
But, can He really be the King? There is no room for Him at Bethlehem Inn so He is born in a stable and laid in a manger. The only ones bowing before Him are some poor shepherds. By His own admission, His is an invisible kingdom that is not of this world; His is no army or soldiers. Yet, He claims to be king. Not too impressive, is it? Yet, in His rule we hear the song of the angels being sung: "Glory to God in the highest."
Nearly 2000 years have passed since the days of Caesar. Where is Caesar today? He is gone, His empire is gone, His legions are gone.
In a scene from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, written at a time when Britain’s star had just begun to rise in Act 5 Scene 3, Hamlet is in a graveyard, holding up a skull. He speaks to Horatio and reflects on the great Caesar whose remains had returned to dust. The speculation was that perhaps great Caesar’s remains now stopped a bung, that is served as a stopper in an old beer-barrel. How the mighty have fallen!
HAMLET, ACT 5, SCENE 3
HORATIO
What’s that, my lord?
HAMLET
Dost thou think Alexander looked o’ this fashion i’ the earth?
HORATIO
E’en so.
HAMLET
And smelt so? pah!
Puts down the skull
HORATIO
E’en so, my lord.
HAMLET
To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping a bung-hole?
HORATIO
’Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.
HAMLET
No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?
Imperious Caesar, dead and turn’d to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:
O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,
Should patch a wall to expel the winter flaw! (2)
But we can’t say that about King Jesus, can we? Christ is still here. He didn’t return to the dust of death he still lives.
In something over 3 centuries after he was put to death under Caesar’s Pontius Pilate, emperor worship came to an end and Christianity was the official religion of the empire. Since then there is knowledge of the King all around the globe.
What a turn-around: Christ’s birthday, not Caesar’s, is a time of celebration. Christ’s Kingdom, not Caesar’s, is growing day-by-day. Christ’s rule, not Caesar’s, is still in effect. In fact, Christ now sits at the right hand of God and has been given all rule, all authority, all power, and all might.
We all know the emperor has no clothes. Even our children learn that might does not make right.
We all know the words of the prophet Isaiah are true, and the growth of the Kingdom of God is proof. It is" not by might, not by armies, but by my spirit saith the Lord."
Caesar is gone. His kingdom is gone. Christ still rules. His Kingdom is growing. The kings and kingdoms of this world are shown to be nothing. Yet, what does man do? Man continues to elevate himself to the throne of Christ. Man pretends that he is master of his life and controller of his destiny. Man fools himself into thinking that he is in control.
Man finds new ways of playing at being God. There is genetic manipulation of humans before birth; genes are implanted to prevent certain genetic diseases. Unborn babies are being aborted when tests reveal that the child is flawed in some way. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide appears to be growing in acceptance. There are all sorts of dire predictions of global warming and what mankind must do, as if the cycle of heating and cooling the earth has gone through for thousands of years is totally in our control.
Luke calls us to make a choice between the two saviors and two kings of Christmas. Who is our savior: Caesar or Jesus? Who is our king: Caesar or Jesus? We have to make a choice between "Glory to man" and "Glory to God."
The confessing Church says, "Glory be to Jesus."
And now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be ascribed as is most justly due, all might, majesty, power and dominion, world without end. Amen.
1) John Dominic Crosson, In Search of St Paul , Harper Collins Sanfrancisco, 2004
2) William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 5 Scene 3
Charles Scott
http://www.goodshepherdindy.org
crscott@email.com
