The Providence of Christmas

The Providence of Christmas

(An excerpt from Pastor Chris Durkin's sermon on December 7th 2025)

LUKE 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

 Who was Caesar Augustus? Well, his real name was Caesar Gaius Octavian. He was the adopted son of Julius Caesar and became his heir. Augustus was an immensely powerful ruler and effective monarch. He ended the civil wars in Rome and ushered in PAX ROMANA. This “Roman Peace” was a time of relative prosperity and stability, which was solidified through force and fear, taxation and executions.

Because he was Julius Caesar’s adopted son, one of Augustus’ titles was “Son of God." Luke now presents the contrast between Jesus the Son of the Most High God, and Augustus son of Julius.

Jesus whose Kingdom will spread over all the world; whose Kingdom will bring true, lasting, eternal peace; who died to save us upon a Roman Cross; who rose again defeating death; it is JESUS who is actually and truly the Son of God!

He is the better Savior and better Ruler than Augustus could ever be.

According to Luke 2 Augustus decrees that there will be an empire-wide census. These censuses were conducted every 14 years in ancient Rome, and their purpose was simple: taxation and intimidation.

How serious did the subjects of Augustus Caesar take this census? Joseph was willing to travel with his very pregnant wife 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem… and they were not driving in an fast, comfortable SUV!

According to historical records, the penalty for not appearing for the census was severe. Even Roman Senators could lose their power if they disobeyed the census. Rome could confiscate your property, have you scourged, imprisoned, or even consign you to slavery. This would lead to massive upheaval, stress, and social unrest. In fact, censuses often led to revolts and warfare.

It would be in the midst of this societal chaos and upheaval, that the Lord sovereignly planned for the Savior to be born!

Joseph had to go back to Bethlehem to register for the census, not only because that was his city of origin, but because God was fulfilling a prophecy made 700 years before the first Christmas.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. -Micah 5:2

In Micah chapter 5 we see three powerful truths: 

1. The Lord gave a precise location where this Ruler would be born,
2. The Lord proclaims this ruler is being sent directly from Him,
3. The Lord reveals that before this ruler is born, He always existed!

What are the implications of this for our study of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2?  

God used the powerful man in the world, Augustus Caesar, as a mere pawn to fulfill His Word.

God used the most powerful nation, Rome, as a simple tool to fulfill His Word.

God used a time of widespread upheaval and global political unrest in the census, as a historical channel to fulfill His Word.

The savior WILL be born in Bethlehem, and the Augustus’ and Quirinius’ had no idea God was using them to fulfill His Word!

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Jeremiah 1:12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.

Do you think God is STILL doing this today?

Do you think everything happening globally and locally today, is not only under God’s sovereign command, but being used to fulfill His Holy Word? Yes!

This is what theologians have described as the PROVIDENCE of God.

Author and commentator, Jerry Bridges, described God's providence in this way: We may say that providence is God’s orchestrating all events and circumstances in the universe for His glory and the good of His people.

The Word of God describes it perfectly in Romans 8:28: 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.