This is the first of our Advent series. Advent is about waiting and preparing our hearts for Christmas. While we may enjoy Christmas, for some of us, this text can feel familiar. As we read these verses, it is also good for us to ask God to give us a fresh understanding.
In this passage, we will consider the mystery and unexpected majesty of Christ’s birth. He came to a world with no peace, a city with no king, and an inn with no room.
(A)The sovereign decree (Lk 2:1-2)
We begin this chapter with a government decree and Luke also gives us lots of important information about it too (Luke 2:1-2). Luke sets the stage for the Christmas story with these details:
“A decree went out from Caesar Augustus” (Lk 2:1). We learn that this is a Roman decree. Caesar Augustus was the heir to Julius Caesar. Hence, he was a specific historical figure.
“This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Lk 2:2). We get more information about this man. But, there seems to be discrepancy between Luke 2:1 and Luke 2:2. Later research showed that Quirinius was governor twice. The ESV Archeology Bible explains, “Other scholars hold that Quirinius served two separate terms as governor, or perhaps served in an administrative role in Syria prior to his appointment there as governor and conducted a census to coincide with the anticipated end of the reign of Herod the Great.”
“all the world” (Lk 2:1). This is the Roman world.
“all went to be be registered” (Lk 2:3). We see an action for the people here as a census is held. This was a concrete event grounded in space-time history, verifiable in records. The Bible is therefore, not mythical. It is truth.
Before we move on, let us pause and reflect. What format of information were you expecting and what do you see? Luke 2:1-2 reads like a historical account with timeframes and time markers. Without these, we will not understand what we are reading.
Luke 1:1-4 helps us to understand Luke’s style and approach to recording the events in Jesus’ life. Luke seemed to have taken firsthand eyewitness accounts and reports it after checking. It was also orderly, methodical and purposeful information was given.
Luke did so so that readers can have certainty and trust. God’s word is given to us to think on and trust. It does not call for us to just close our eyes and jump. We have been given minds to reason and consider, and to love God with our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Luke also does not begin from a spiritual starting point, unlike John. Luke chooses to ground it in space-time history, in a time when His people might wonder if God had abandoned them.
Because Caesar made that decree, Joseph and his betrothed returned to their hometown, and in doing so, were swept into the events of unfolding history (Lk 2:3). How do you think about the events of your life as they unfold? How about the wars and political events of our day?
As John Piper puts it, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”
(B) The royal city (Lk 2:3-5)
Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee, from Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem (Lk 2:4). Joseph, we are told, was from the house of David. In Luke 3:23, we see that Luke also inserts a family tree which begins with Jesus and ends with God in Luke 3:38.
Legally and factually, Jesus was the son of David. Why is this important? We see in 2 Samuel 7:7-16 a promise that God makes to David.
Luke also wants to show us that because of this census, Jesus is not born a Galilean but is from Bethlehem. And Jesus also fulfils Micah 5:2.
Only a sovereign God can use the arrogance and pride of a Roman Emperor and a census to determine where the Saviour of the world can be born. God uses the events of the world to ensure that Jesus is born in the royal city, too small and insignificant in the eyes of the world.
In Luke 2:5, Luke also introduces the predicament of Joseph and his family. We learn that Mary is his betrothed — legally pledged to be married — and she was with child. These details, together with verses like Luke 2:19,48,52 were likely told to Luke by Mary herself.
Why are these details important? Luke 1:27 and Matthew 1:25 tell us that Jesus was virgin born and the gospel writers took special care to emphasise this important information. Jesus was not born the way you and I were born. What was conceived in Mary was not the work of man and of regular conception. This was an immaculate conception done by the Holy Spirit. He is not a sinner as we are!
And see how Joseph was faithful to bring his betrothed wife to Bethlehem and in doing so, Jesus was born there.
(C) The humble inn (Lk 2:6-7)
In Luke 2:6, we are told that when Mary and Joseph arrived, “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.” The timing of the events is critical and helps us to see that God works out all things such that she gives birth at the right time. Only God orchestrates events like this, just to keep His promises.
Earlier in Luke 1:32-33, the angel speaks of Jesus’ divine sonship and also reveals that Jesus will have the throne of David and reign over the house of Jacob forever. Why is David’s throne and the house of Jacob separate? God’s people split into two kingdoms, and with the advent of Jesus, He will unify and bring a divided people together, forever. Jesus had to be born in the city of David, as the qualified descendant, so that all the promises made to David can be fulfilled in glory.
We are also told that there was no place for Jesus in an inn and because there was the mention of a manger, Jesus could have been born in the barn (Lk 1:7). Luke does not tell us any more details, thus, we do not know if there were animals there, as our current depictions of the nativity scenes often include.
This inn was also crowded because this was a busy period — everyone also went back to their hometown. Thus, though He was of royal lineage, Jesus had no place to stay even at His birth. And Joseph and Mary were probably poor and could not afford more than what was available.
This is the Saviour of the world — born poor in humble conditions. Later, Joseph and Mary could also only offer turtledoves, the minimum offering (Lk 2:24). Luke’s gospel intentionally highlights women, Gentiles and the poor.
In Galatians 4:4-5, we learn that this is what God did. In the fullness of time — at the right time appointed by God — God brought forth Christ under these circumstances. God orchestrated events that we would never dream, and used the most unimaginable of means to bring about His plans.
What does this account teach us about God’s sovereignty and providence? How can we ready our hearts for Jesus this Advent season?