Christmas According to Kids Part 2 — Shepherds Knew - Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (ESV)
In the late 1890s, German archaeologists discovered what is now known as the “Priene Calendar Inscription” in ancient Priene (now in modern-day Turkey). It was an edict written by the Roman proconsul of Asia declaring that the new year should begin on Caesar Augustus’ birthday in honor of him.
Allow me to make a couple of contextual connections for you:
(1) Remember that Luke begins his retelling of Jesus’ birth by reminding the audience who was in power at that time, none other than Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1). This was intentional. His name alone would draw certain convictions, thoughts, and stories to mind for the original audience.
(2) We can’t know for certain that the original audience immediately thought of the words written in the Priene Calendar Inscription when Luke dropped Caesar’s name in verse 1, but we can fairly confidently say that they did when they heard verses 10 and 11. I’ll let you read portions of the inscription yourself and make your own conclusions:
“Providence has ordered all things and set them in order by giving us Caesar Augustus, whom she has filled with virtue that he might benefit all humanity, and has sent him as a savior for us and our descendants, that he might end war and bring order to all things… The birthday of the god was the beginning of the good news for the world…”
This was a major piece of the cultural backdrop that Luke likely had in mind when writing his account of Jesus’ birth. The parallels are unmistakable, and the message of Jesus’ birth is abundantly clear:
History will always be filled with people, products, and programs that promise things they cannot deliver on. Only Jesus can give what the world promises us.
No politician or policy can bring the peace Jesus can. No product or possession can bring the comfort Jesus can. And no person in all of creation has the ability to save another soul from destruction. Only Jesus can do that. And thank you, Father, that He did. THAT is good news.
APPLICATION
Take some time today to thank God for all the things He has done for you that only He can do.
PRAYER
Father, forgive us for our propensity to pursue peace, purpose, and fulfillment outside of our connection to you. Thank you for all the ways you constantly prove your faithfulness toward us.