In Luke 2:1 - 5 we read, “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.”
Luke the physician, with his method of detail, grounds the birth of Jesus in history, just as he does with the beginning of the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus in Luke 3:1 - 2. The Gospel of Luke is a narrative rooted in history, an account of events that took place during a defined period in history - which of course have ongoing consequences as the torch of testimony is passed from generation to generation.
However, the birth narrative is not confined to a place or a time, but it encompasses places and times past and times and places future as witnessed in the words of angels to Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds; and the songs and prophecies of Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna (Luke chapters 1 & 2). The birth of Jesus and what it means are linked to prophecies past now being fulfilled in Him with that fulfillment expanding and enlarging into the future and affecting all peoples and nations, as Simeon says, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
There is a contrast and a challenge between Jesus and Augustus that we can easily miss, a contrast and a challenge that ought to cause us to look into the mirror in our politically charged society and world.
Augustus was viewed as a son of god, portrayed as a savior, as a giver of light and peace - he was viewed as divine.
Here's a quote about Augustus from Paullus Fabius Maximus, proconsul of Asia:
"(It is hard to tell) whether the birthday of the most divine Caesar is a matter of greater pleasure or benefit. We could justly hold it to be equivalent to the beginning of all things...; and he has given a different aspect to the whole world, which blindly would have embraced its own destruction if Caesar had not been born for the common benefit of all."
The birth of Jesus is set against the great Augustus. Jesus placed in a feeding trough at His birth, Augustus reigning in Rome. Who is the one who will really save us from destruction? Who is the real savior? Who is truly divine? Who will bring lasting peace to the earth?
While Mark begins his Gospel not at the birth of Jesus but rather at the beginning of His ministry, Mark also challenges political assumptions when he writes (Mark 1:1), “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” For after the death of Augustus, subsequent Roman emperors also assumed the title, “Son of God,” meaning that Mark was presenting an immediate contrast and challenge to the subjects of Rome - was Caesar the Son of God or was Jesus the Son of God?
Let us remind ourselves that had Christians worshipped Caesar as a god that they likely would not have been persecuted; their crime was not worshipping Jesus so much as it was not worshipping Caesar in addition to Jesus. In the eyes of Rome the problem with Christians is that they exclusively worshipped Jesus Christ.
Could it be that a problem with professing Christians today is that we do not exclusively worship Jesus Christ? Our minds and emotions are often filled with political rhetoric, we disparage men and women who have been duly placed in office. We vilify those with whom we disagree. We turn our eyes from immorality and injustice, or even scantion it with our vote if it will benefit us. We hurl labels such as “right”, “left”, “conservative”, “progressive”, as we might use the words ebola, polio, plague, and cancer. We think we are in a “culture war” and justify virtually any means to achieve our ends whether or not those means are righteous and holy.
We forget the words of Mary that God is bringing down rulers and their thrones, we forget that Jesus Christ is the eternal reality and that His reign is being worked out on the earth...and hopefully in our lives. We forget that salvation does not lie in Augustus or his successors; whether those successors are Roman caesars or American presidents.
Jesus says that we cannot serve two masters, perhaps we do not believe Him? Perhaps we think that we can disprove Him? Certainly He will understand.
Those who follow Jesus Christ are called to experience a reorientation of their thinking, a reorientation that includes governments and politics - whether domestic or international. The followers of Christ are called to love all, to care for all, to seek equity and justice and peace for all - knowing that in Christ alone can these things be lasting. We are called to be God’s ambassadors, His representatives (2 Corinthians 5:20), citizens of His Kingdom (Philippians 3:20).
The birth narrative in the Gospels presents a contrast between the kingdoms and “saviors” of this world and Jesus Christ. The beginning of the Gospel of Mark presents a challenge as to who we will worship as the Son of God. The beginning of the Gospel of John challenges us as to whether we will order our lives according to the Word which is God or the words of man. The Logos of God is not the word of man, God’s order of things is not man’s order of things. If Jesus Christ is the image of God then Caesar is not the image of God, and that includes all subsequent caesars in all subsequent governments and political systems - including whatever political system the reader may reside in.
“Little children, guard yourselves from idols,” (1 John 5:21).
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