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24 December 2007
Word on the Web
Luke 2: 1-3
At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register. This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to their own towns to be registered.
"Can't we just get on with our lives in peace!?" Disruption across the entire world, people having to take time off work and travel vast distances, national upheaval - Augustus Caesar had decreed a census to be taken. No doubt there were many economic reasons for the census - to make the Roman Empire run more smoothly, but behind it was an undeniable fact - here was Caesar marking his territory, disrupting lives, letting every individual know that he was in charge and they were his subjects. And so Joseph made the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem because Caesar said so.
Seven hundred years earlier God had spoken through the prophet Micah, "But you Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." (Micah 5:2) Caesar wasn't to know that his very census was the event that would take Joseph and Mary, now carrying Jesus, to Bethlehem. But the Lord had said that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem. So Joseph made the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem because God had said so.
As we think on the Christmas story we are reminded that behind even the upheavals and disruptions in our lives God is working his purposes out. And his purposes are to 'shepherd his people'.
Dear God, when our days are disrupted, when we face upheavals and when things don't go the way we had planned, give us eyes to see your hand at work and strength to believe that you are in charge and are gently shepherding us with your love. In Jesus name, Amen.
Written by Sam Chaplin
Word on the Web
Luke 2: 1-3
At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register. This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to their own towns to be registered.
"Can't we just get on with our lives in peace!?" Disruption across the entire world, people having to take time off work and travel vast distances, national upheaval - Augustus Caesar had decreed a census to be taken. No doubt there were many economic reasons for the census - to make the Roman Empire run more smoothly, but behind it was an undeniable fact - here was Caesar marking his territory, disrupting lives, letting every individual know that he was in charge and they were his subjects. And so Joseph made the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem because Caesar said so.
Seven hundred years earlier God had spoken through the prophet Micah, "But you Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." (Micah 5:2) Caesar wasn't to know that his very census was the event that would take Joseph and Mary, now carrying Jesus, to Bethlehem. But the Lord had said that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem. So Joseph made the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem because God had said so.
As we think on the Christmas story we are reminded that behind even the upheavals and disruptions in our lives God is working his purposes out. And his purposes are to 'shepherd his people'.
Dear God, when our days are disrupted, when we face upheavals and when things don't go the way we had planned, give us eyes to see your hand at work and strength to believe that you are in charge and are gently shepherding us with your love. In Jesus name, Amen.
Written by Sam Chaplin
