A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers  

Luke 2:1-3, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.” In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.” Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” Yet he totally missed the big news that man had flown. So, what would you consider to be the big news of the day? World leaders assembling for economic talks? Peace talks to settle ongoing armed conflicts? Perhaps on the local front, retail sales spurred by holiday incentives? In the case of the Wright brothers, Christmas overshadowed manned flight. In the days of Mary and Joseph, on the street, the big news was the census that had been decreed by Caesar. 20-25% of the world’s population lived within the borders of the mighty Roman Empire. The vast Roman road system would have been buzzing with travelers journeying back to their ancestral homes. The Pax Romana, would have been providing security and logistics for citizens en transit. In the midst of these headlines, an unusual star in the heavens was being observed by wise and watchful eyes, and unto humble Judean shepherds, angelic messengers heralded: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The worldwide census became a footnote, to the heavenly chorus of, “Peace on earth, good will to men.” The big news was not Caesar’s edict, or the mighty Roman Empire’s expansive tentacles, but that in a stable, in a small village called Bethlehem, the Son of God was born as the Son of man, so the sons of men might be born as sons of God. So significant was the herald, our calendars were changed, an Empire that ruled with the sword, was eventually brought to its knees by a Kingdom of peace, and the world will never be the same. Two millennia later, the Sacred Text reminds us, the story hasn’t been relegated to the back pages of the paper. Now and forever more, Jesus is Lord. Allow this truth to change your life not only for this season, but for each new day.