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Celebrating Advent - December 21

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Sing: O Come, O Come Emanuel

Reading: Luke 2:1-7

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Summary (for your preparation): Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of Rome after it ceased being a republic. Many believe he was also the best of the emperors. Augustus, which means "exalted," was a title that the Senate voted on as he took office in 27 B.C. This section begins by pointing our attention to this great and mighty king and ends by indicating that there was no room for Jesus and his family at the inn. This signals an amazing contrast between Caesar Augustus who seems to have the world at his fingertips and Jesus, by whom the world was created and yet there isn't hardly a spot for him in it. Oh the injustice this passage makes us feel. Why should Caesar have the power he does? Why doesn't anybody seem to care that the almighty God has come to town? We lament how our world is so upside down as it is depicted in this passage. Yet we rejoice that it won't always be this way. Just beneath the surface God is bringing the King of kings into the world, like a mustard seed that starts off small and grows to be the largest. This will happen. There is a day coming when Caesar Augustus will have to answer to Jesus, just as it should be. In the meantime, may the world respond to Jesus in faith out of adoration as opposed to the forced submission required by Caesar.

Teaching Tip: Have your children notice the way this paragraph begins and ends. It bookends with two kings who are contrasted in every way. Literally everyone would have known who Caesar Augustus was...nobody knew who Jesus was, except for a few. Help your children to see that the way man thinks is different than the way God thinks. What man values is not what God values and because of this, the things of God often go unappreciated and unnoticed. Yet, Jesus grew up to be the Savior of the world, the most important king and and greatest king forever and ever.  

Questions/Responses:

Who does the beginning of this paragraph tell us about? Caesar Augustus

 What are some things we know about Caesar Augustus? Everyone listens to him, everyone knows him, he has power and control over a lot of people, he was going to count all of the people in his empire...

 Who does the end of this paragraph tell us about in verse 7? It tells us about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus

 What are some things that we know about Jesus in verses 6-7? He was born, he was laid in a manger, he didn't have a nice room to sleep in or be born in because it says there wasn't any room for his family in the inn (hotel)

 Everyone thinks Caesar Augustus is important. Does anyone think Jesus is important?  Joseph and Mary do. Zechariah and Elizabeth do. God the Father does. When Jesus returns to the earth the whole world will know that he is the most important and greatest King!

What is one thing we learn about God and his ways through this paragraph? God is always working to bring glory to his name and salvation to the world through Jesus, even when we cannot see it. 

 Prayer and Ending

Prayer: Father in heaven, your ways are higher than our ways and your understanding is greater than our understanding. Please help your people to have eyes to see the greatness of Christ, even when he isn't valued in our world. Please protect your people from thinking like the world and valuing what the world values. Help your people to, by faith, trust that you always are at work in our lives to further the gospel of Christ, even when we are caught in a world that seems hopeless and mundane. You are an almighty God and no one can stop your purposes. May we rejoice in your steadfast love and wisdom. AMEN.

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