“Those Days” and “That Day”: An Advent Meditation
The Birth 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. ESV
I sometimes struggle to be present. My mind frequently ponders futures ripe with possibility. But in my youth, I frequently heard the wise admonition to “be where your feet are.” Learning to live in the present moment and yet keep a hopeful eye on the future remains a balancing act I’ve not yet mastered. Luke’s account of Jesus’s birth causes me to reflect on the challenge.
Luke begins his story “In those days…” This is not a “once upon a time” kind of reference. Instead, Luke locates “those days” in a specific context with a reference that does not appear in any of the other Gospel accounts. “Those days” were the days of Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the mighty Roman Empire. In those days “all the world” was to be registered in Caesar’s census. “All the world” answered to the emperor as he held sway over his subjects. His power was unchallenged.
Mary and Joseph had no choice but to comply. Their “present” moment demanded they make the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and register for the tax. No doubt hundreds of other Israelites traveled to their hometowns to register as well. Still, I wonder if they were thinking about the future even as they carried out their responsibilities in the present. For generations, God’s people looked forward to the day when Messiah would come. All of their kings – even David - had fallen short of the ideal leader they longed to see sit on the throne. Yet they believed the prophecies that one day a perfect king from the line of David would arrive and lead his people. The Israelites were a people anchored in the past, living in the present, but always looking to the future. They longed for “that day” even as they lived in “those days.”
Luke’s keen awareness of this messianic hope permeates his infancy narratives. He repeatedly highlights Jesus’ relationship to David. (Luke 1:27, 32, 69; 2:4, 11). The angel who appeared to Mary was most explicit; “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Lk. 1:32). Luke leaves no doubt. Jesus was the son of David, destined to reign. Make no mistake, this was a bold proclamation in the days of Caesar Augustus. The long-awaited true ruler of “all the world” was coming and Caesar must take a back seat.
This Advent season may we learn to wait, anticipate, and hope. Advent challenges us to look to a future rooted in the past while also being present in the here and now. May we remember those ancient Jews who longed for the arrival of their king. We know He came, yet we still wait for His second coming. May we faithfully fulfill our responsibilities in “these days” even as we anticipate the arrival of our true king on “that day.”
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think Luke includes the reference to Caesar Augustus when he describes the setting? How does the mention of Caesar create a tension in the story?
2. What forces or rulers of this world compete for your devotion to Christ?
3. How might you cultivate a deeper sense of God’s past work in the world as a means to live holy lives in the present?
4. Given the pressures of everyday life, how do you cultivate a healthy longing for the future return of Christ?