PrintToday's "Learning with Luke" (4)
25 December, 2012
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea..... And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:1-4, 6,7 (NLT)
I find it fascinating the way the Lord God moves heaven and earth to make sure that His purposes are fulfilled. Time and again He breaks into our history and does something amazing so that history serves Him. This Christmas story is just one of those divine invasions.
The first 4 verses of Luke 2 might well read like a news comment in the Jerusalem Tribune. It is so unpretentious. Sure, it will disrupt a lot of people and their plans but that's life. I read those words and I see them as a statement of fact. Nothing more. But there is much, much more behind those headlines.
The Roman Emperor has issued a decree. Big deal!! Why? Because behind that decision the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is re-arranging everybody's travel plans. He is organizing history so that a carpenter called Joseph together with his heavily pregnant wife, Mary, will be in Bethlehem when the child is born and so the ancient prophecy will be fulfilled; a prophecy that said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Not Nazareth. Not Jerusalem. No, it had to be Bethlehem. So, under cover of this census, God oversees the arrival of Mary & Joseph in the city of Joseph's heritage. He is a descendant of King David. "
Do you think that's a lot of trouble for God to go to, making all those plans and then overseeing their fulfilment? If so, just keep in mind that the child to be born to Joseph and Mary is also the "One and Only Son of the Living God". We are talking here about another divine invasion and this one on a massive scale.
Did you note the words, "And while they were there the time came for her baby to be born". It is a reference to the fact that the 9 months were now finished and it was time.But I submit that it also has a secondary meaning and it is the Apostle Paul who describes it best,
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, (Gal 4:4 NIV)
The birth of this child is, in fact, the establishing of a beachhead as the Kingdom of God invades the kingdom of darkness and the Son of God comes to destroy the works of the devil
Blog
- THE JOURNEY IS OVER (JOURNAL 90)
3 June, 2016
If you were to read our journal entry for this day last year, you would read the following Today's instalment… [more]
- JOURNAL 89
22 May, 2016
Hi sweetheart, Sometimes I experience periods of “What if…?”. These are times when my mind seems… [more]
- JOURNAL 88
17 May, 2016
Hi Darling, Coming home from the hospital with a mechanical device fitted to my chest – a P.E.G. I think it… [more]
- JOURNAL 87
13 May, 2016
JOURNAL 87 The doctor said I can go home this morning. The surgery has had the desired effect and this new means of… [more]
- JOURNAL 86
10 May, 2016
JOURNAL 86 MOTHER’S DAY Hello sweetheart, I haven’t spoken to our children as to… [more]
