Luke: Part 6 – The Birth of Jesus
Luke begins the narrative of the birth of Jesus Christ with these words, “In those days.” The story does not begin with, “Once upon a time.” This is a true report with real people and real events. He is careful to give us a time reference, using the events and names of the Roman Empire. He speaks of Quirinius, the governor of Syria and Caesar Augustus, the most celebrated of all the Roman emperors. Luke two begins as follows, At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.