Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/420759
December 29 Luke 2:1–20 24 Scott Wenig, PhD Professor of Applied Theology T he world had never seen anyone like him before. His empire stretched north to England, south to all of North Africa, and east as far as the Syrian border with Persia. It encompassed over three million square miles (more than the continental US) and included upwards of 50 million people. Moreover, his armies were so strong that no one dared challenge them, making it possible for him to create the Pax Romana or Roman peace. Before he was 40, he ruled rulers; he was literally a king of kings. His given name was Octavian, but after eliminating all his enemies and ascending to the top of the Roman government, he became known as Caesar Augustus. In fact, today we still speak of an august person, someone who is powerful and grand and majestic. At the age of 60, in an effort to finance his ever-expanding government, Augustus issued a decree that everyone within his realm should be taxed. As he lifted a finger in Rome, a poverty-stricken young couple 1,500 miles away in Galilee was forced to undertake a fearful journey south to a tiny town in Judea called Bethlehem to register for the census. It was a hazardous trip for many reasons, not the least of which was that the young woman was nine months pregnant. To make matters worse, upon arriving at their destination, they could find no comfortable lodging, so they made do in a stable where she gave birth to a son. at very night, an angel appeared to some shepherds outside of the town, announcing that the Savior had been born, "Who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Just as suddenly, a vast army of angels appeared, praising God that His peace had arrived in this newly born babe who would, as a grown man, proclaim that God's kingdom had arrived in Him. On that fateful night over two millennia ago, no one thought that a baby born in a manger had any worth compared to the leader of the Roman Empire. But while the achievements of Augustus have faded into the recesses of the distant past, that baby's birthday, which we now call Christmas, is celebrated annually by millions around the globe. In a world and culture that places so much value on power, money, success, and fame, it's important to remember that on that first Christmas God's angels were singing in Bethlehem, not in Rome. An Upside-down King