We haven’t spent too much time thinking about the way things were in the world when Jesus was born. I listened to a talk by speaker Rob Bell this week and I started thinking about what the world was like when Jesus was born. Look at Luke 2:1.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
Luke 2:1 (ESV)
If the people watched Fox News or CNN 2000 years ago, they would have noticed the cameras focusing on Caesar Augustus. Everyone would have been watching him. He was the emperor of Rome. And the Roman Empire stretched from England to Egypt, from Spain to Arabia, from Morocco to Turkey. Essentially, he ruled the western world.
His name was originally “Octavian.” At age 18 he was adopted by his great-uncle Julius Caesar. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, a power struggle followed and Octavian eventually defeated Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC. 4 years later, Octavian became the first Roman Emperor and took the name Caesar Augustus.
Augustus means majestic, sacred, sublime, revered. The rule of Augustus was mainly filled with victory. The Roman army was so strong that it protected citizens from attacks from the tribes who lived beyond the empire. The two hundred year period that began with the rule of Caesar Augustus was known as the Pax Romana, or the “Peace of Rome.” Many Romans came to think of him as a god.
In 17 BC, Augustus announced a “nouus annus” – a new age based on virtue, peace, honor and truth. In 14 BC, Augustus was deified by the Roman Senate. He was the first Roman ruler to be worshipped as “divi filius” – a son of god. In 12 B.C., he took the title of Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest.
A poem was written about him:
Next behold the youth of form divine,
Ceasar himself, exalted in his line;
Augustus, promis’d oft, and long foretold,
Sent to the realm that Saturn rul’d of old;
Born to restore a better age of gold.
In 2 BC, a coin – a denarius – was minted with a picture of Augustus. Around the edge were these words, “Caesar Augustus Divi Filius Pater Patriae” – Caesar Augustus, son of the Divine, Father of the Country.
Augustus would provide what was called “bread and circus” for the people. In order to keep the people of Rome from becoming too unhappy with their lives, the government provided them with enough food (or bread) so they wouldn’t starve and enough entertainment (or circuses) so they would be amused.
And don’t forget that the people in the Roman empire were expected to say “Caesar is Lord.” If you didn’t, you’d lose your head.
Augustus died at the age of 77 in AD 14. The bereaved people erected temples and altars in his memory. After his death, a senator announced with an oath that he had seen Augustus “ascend into heaven.” And an account of his life was written called “The Achievements of the Divine Augustus.”
You can almost hear the people singing, “Glory to Augustus! The good news is that Ceasar Augustus is ruling. He’ll give us bread. He’ll give us great joy through the entertainment he provides. He’s our Savior, our High Priest, our Lord. He’s the source of our peace.”
Think with me. This is the ways things were when Luke writes that an angel said to a group of dirty shepherds in an obscure corner of a conquered country:
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2: 10-14 (ESV)
In that day, this was radical, revolutionary news! The glory doesn’t go to Caesar. It goes to God! Think about that last verse.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
Luke 2: 14 (ESV)
Ultimately, the birth of Jesus is about who gets glory. Glory to God!
It gives glory to God when you see Jesus as the One who can free you from your fears,
as your Source of good news, as your Foundation for great joy, as your Savior, as your Cause for peace, as your Christ, and as your Lord. It takes away from God’s glory when we seek alternatives.
Today, we aren’t tempted to look to Caesar Augustus as our source. But we look in lots of other places. It might be job security that you look to for freedom from fear. It might be your spouse that you look to for good news. Maybe it’s how you hope your kids will turn out that you are counting on to give you great joy. Perhaps you are hoping some physician will be the savior of your health. You’re looking to some person in your world to create some kind of personal peace for you. You’re looking in the “how to” section of the bookstore for guidance.
I don’t know where you’re looking for your source, your supply, your satisfaction. But wherever you’re looking, that’s your Lord. Be careful, you might be applauding an imposter.
You’re going to live 60, 70, 80+ years in this world if God gives you good health. What’s it all about? Why are you here? Why did God create us?
Bring… everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for my glory.
Isaiah 43:6-7
Glory to God. It’s a big deal to God. What is it? It’s about applause.
When someone does something great at a sporting event or a concert, you just want to stand up and cheer and clap!
God’s glory is about applause. It’s about God’s reputation, His fame. It’s about God getting the applause that is due Him. He deserves to be cheered. He says things like:
I am a jealous God.
Exodus 20:5 (ESV)
I am the LORD; that is My name; My glory I give to no other.
Isaiah 42:8 (ESV)
In the NT, “glory” = doxa = splendor, magnificence, majesty, excellence. In the OT, “glory”= kabowd = honor, abundance, splendor, weight. This Hebrew word for glory is “heavy, weighty.” We use it that way. We say, “He carries a lot of weight.” God is weighty. He’s the One who has clout.
God is the most important person in the universe and he does not like being taken for granted. He does not like it when we honor someone or something else in His place.
Suppose you ask me, a senior pastor, “After God, who’s the most important person in your life?” And suppose I mention the name of someone on my staff here at the church. And you say, “What about your wife?” And I say, “O . . . I just assumed that you’d know that. Sure, Maryanne is the most important person in my life. That goes without saying.”
She shouldn’t like that. I don’t think she would say, “O, I feel so loved and so honored. It doesn’t really bother me that Rick doesn’t think to mention me among his VIPs. It doesn’t bug me. I’m OK with that.”
That’s not what she should say. What she should say is this: “If I don’t come to your mind when people ask, “Who’s the most important person in your life?”, then I am not important to you. And if you think that I am honored by being taken for granted, then you are wrong, because I’m not.”
Don’t miss this: God is the most important person in the universe and he does not like being taken for granted. He does not like it when we honor someone or something else in His place.
The angels got it. That’s why they were singing. The shepherds got it. That’s why they went to worship. Mary and Joseph got it. Glory to God! Do we get it?
When you look in the manger, don’t forget…
See the glory of God in Jesus before He was born.
He existed before He was born. Christmas is God becoming a baby so He could grow up, live a sinless life, demonstrate that He was God, die on a cross to pay for our sins, be raised form the dead, and ascend back to heaven. One day, He will come back to complete our salvation. But don’t forget that He existed before He was born. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit – one God in three persons – enjoyed perfect glory together in eternity past.
Just before Jesus died on the cross, He prayed to His Father in heaven.
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:5 (NIV)
The Bible tells us in John 1 that Jesus was the Creator. Every creature that swims in the water give praise to His creative genius. The stars exalt Him. Lightning shows off His glory. Thunder sounds with His glory. Those angels that sang glory to God at His birth also sang to Him as the glorious Creator when He made the world.
The morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.
Job 38:7 (NIV)
See the glory of God in Jesus after He was born.
One of his followers, John, traveled with Jesus for three years. He saw Him turn water into wine. He saw Jesus stop storms at sea. He saw Him transfigured into dazzling brightness. He saw Him raise up a dead man. He saw Him die. He saw Him live again. No wonder he wrote these words:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (ESV)
See the glory of God in Jesus when He will come.
Don’t forget that this little baby at Christmas grew up and will be your judge… and mine.
The Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:27 (ESV)
How do I live for God’s glory?
Here’s one of my life verses that gives us some direction.
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 (ESV)
Notice the three prepositions: from, through, to. This can help us shape three prayers for daily living.
Jesus, my life is from You.
… from Him are all things. To Him be glory.
I know your hard work and natural ability and good health enable you to do what you do. I know that other people have invested in you, in your education, in your training. It’s your strength and your passion and your drive that make you who you are.
But where did all that ultimately come from? From Him are all things! You ought to be so thankful, so humble… and so careful.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.
Luke 12:48 (NASB)
We will be held accountable for how we use the gifts God gave us. God has entrusted each of us with lives, with skills, with relationships.
Jesus, my life is through You.
… through Him are all things. To Him be glory.
It’s crunch time in your life. It’s time to dig deep. Something’s broken and it needs to be fixed. Something’s wrong and it needs to be made right. Someone’s dream is shattered and they need to be lifted up. Where do you go for the wisdom and the strength? Are you going to turn to yourself? Remember, Jesus said:
Apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 5:15b (NLT)
Your “I can’t” is His “I can.” Your strength is through Him. People who get strength from Jesus remember that He called Himself “I Am.” Think about the implications of that. If Jesus is “I Am” then who am I? “I am not!” I don’t depend on my own strength. I tap into His!
Jesus, my life is to You.
… to Him are all things. To Him be glory.
Why do you have all your talent? Why do you work so very hard?
Don’t you love it when some football players point up to heaven when they score a touchdown? I do if it means that they are giving the glory to God. If it’s a meaningless ritual or some attempt a manipulation to try to get God to give them another touchdown later, then that’s not too cool.
But we have to understand that there’s something happening in our lives that has eternal significance. We are to point to Him. We live to honor God. And I think it’s probably more important that we point to Him on the inside than that we point to Him on the outside.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Psalm 115:1 (ESV)
It’s not about us. It’s all about Him. Do you rob God of His glory or do you live for His fame?
When a man forgets to mention his wife as the most important person in his life under God, there is a defect in his love. And when we can live our lives for hour after hour and day after day without connecting to God, there is a defect in our love for God.
The opposite of taking God for granted is an hour-by-hour inner conversation with Jesus – “Jesus, my life is from, through, and to You!” This is the way you admire God and love God and treasure God and stand in awe of God.
Do you know what the first sin in the universe was? The first sin was when a created being started seeking glory for himself.
Tonight, when you fall to sleep, it would honor God if you would whisper a prayer: “Jesus, today was a day from, to, and through You.” Tomorrow when you are seeking to make a sale, it would honor God if you would whisper a prayer: “Jesus, this job is a job from, to, and through You.” When you hold a new little baby, it would honor God if you would whisper a prayer: “Jesus, in know that this little one is from, to, and through You.” When you snuggle up close to someone you love at Christmas, it would honor God if you would whisper a prayer: “Jesus, this warmth I’m feeling right now is from, to, and through You.” When you close your eyes in death, it would honor God if you would whisper a prayer: “Jesus, my life was a life lived from, to, and through You.” When you open your eyes in heaven, it would honor God if you would whisper a prayer: “Jesus, even now it’s still from, to, and through You.”
A point to ponder: God is most glorifed in us when we are most satisfied in Him. (John Piper)
A verse to remember: And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
II Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
A question to consider: What or who have I been honoring in God’s place?
The birth of Jesus under the rule of Augustus shows us two different kinds of empires. One is built on intimidation and coercion and war and oppression. The other is built by a baby.
Caesar is Lord? Glory to Caesar?
Who or what have you made your Caesar? Your career is Lord? Your family? Your comfort? Your reputation? Your job security? Whatever you’re hoping to find satisfaction in is your Lord. And you are glorying in that!
No! This baby is Lord! Glory to Him!
"Hey Augustus, we don’t need your bread because Jesus is our Bread. We don’t need your circus because Jesus is our joy. We don’t really trust your peace because Jesus is our peace. We don’t need you to be our high priest because Jesus is our Christ – our Messiah – our Prophet, Priest and King. And Augustus, we don’t think you are Lord because Jesus is Lord."
Can’t you just hear those first followers of Christ talking to their friends in the Roman Empire? “Is Caesar Lord? Really? Listen, Caesar won’t be there for you.”
Julius Caesar… died. Caesar Augustus… died. Tiberius? Died. Caligula? Died. Claudius? Died. Nero? Died. Do you notice a trend here?
Jesus lives. Your lord died. Our Lord lives.
This Christmas story is about who gets glory – who gets applause. And it better be Jesus. He alone will never fail you!
