Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
3 sermons cite this verse
… the just humbleness of it. And then the angel of the Lord goes out to find somebody. You know, the messenger says, somebody's gotta come see this. The Messiah, the Lord has been born and he goes out and he finds the night shift shepherds. Remember the shepherds were the lowest rung in society among Jewish people in the first century, and the knights of shepherds were the lowest of the low. And the messenger says, behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all people, not just some, but for all people. For unto you this day in the city of David is born a savior who is Christ the Lord. Savior was a term that was used both of God and of kings and warriors. It meant deliverer, rescuer. And the emperor took on that title himself. He was the savior of the world, he thought, when the Romans said. And then there's the title Christ. Christ is the Greek version of the Hebrew Messiah, which means anointed one, one in a sort of shorthand usually for king. …
… It's amazing. Behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. All the people. For unto you this day in the city of David is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you, he says. you'll find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. In a manger? Our Savior, the Christ, the Lord? By the way, those three titles are really important. Savior is a term that's used of God and also of other earthly kings and warriors. It means deliverer, rescuer. The Emperor Augustus, who ordered the census, he took on the title of Savior of the world. And Christ is a word, it's not Jesus' last name. It means in Hebrew, Messiah is the, Mashiach is the Hebrew, means anointed one. It typically was shorthand for king. So he is the savior, he is the king. And then he's the Lord. And the Lord is the highest authority in a given realm. …
… in Bethlehem? Well, we know the answer to that because we read it every year in the Christmas story, don't we? That in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And so everyone went to their own city to enroll themselves for what end? So that they could be taxed by a conquering emperor who now, without any regard for what it would cost the people to make an arduous journey back to the birthplaces to enroll for taxation, nevertheless gave the imperial decree that they do it. Now you can imagine a conversation like this going on in Nazareth. Joseph says, Mary, did you see the latest edict that came out of Rome? That crackpot emperor wants us all to go to our place of birth and enroll so that we can be taxed. How do you feel about making a trip to Bethlehem? Mary said well I suppose Joseph that if that's what the authorities require then that was we was do oh come on Mary don't give me that Joseph says you remember what the angel said you're pregnant now and you're carrying in your womb the Messiah do you think we're going to jeopardize the whole salvation of our people by going on this arduous journey just to fulfill the whimsical decree of this crazy emperor over my dead body. We're staying here. Let him find us if he wants our tax. …