The Son is Born (Luke 2:1–7) from South Woods Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Christmas nativity scenes have a fascination about them. At this time of year, some churches have living nativity scenes with volunteer characters, various animals, and shall we say, “rent-a-baby” to play the part of Jesus. We see them, marvel at their willingness to stand in the cold, and drive away thinking, “how cute.”

Amazon offers twenty web pages of variously priced nativity scenes made from an array of materials. You can get them in polyresin, wood, ceramic, stone, plastic, metal, porcelain, crystal, fabric, glass, pewter, and vinyl. Each has its own take on the nativity.

During our first year of marriage, we purchased an inexpensive nativity scene (that’s all that we could afford) in New Orleans and made it part of our celebration. Every year I must get the hot glue gun out and pin down Joseph or a lamb or shepherd that has worked its way loose boxed up in the attic. That very humble looking nativity scene reminds me that what took place at the first Christmas couldn’t have appeared very spectacular.

Our middle son John made a manger scene during Sunday School at South Woods many years ago. The birth of Christ is displayed with clever use of toilet paper rolls, popsicle sticks, crepe paper, and cotton balls. The figures at this nativity have lost eyes, legs, and beards but continue as part of our tradition.

My personal favorite is one that our oldest child Kelly proudly gave us when she was probably 6 or 7. The little plastic Joseph and Mary stand less than three inches tall while standing next to baby Jesus asleep on the hay. Best of all, it glows in the dark. It’s simple, which is part of the picture that Luke describes in his nativity narrative.

We’re sort of engulfed with nativity scenes in stores, gas stations, shopping centers, and other public venues. Yet, despite the many representations—some quite helpful, how often do they leave our imaginations staggered with the humble reality of Jesus Christ’s birth? Luke’s narrative understates the scene at Jesus’ birth in order to highlight its simplicity in the midst of eternal purposes. The majestic Lord of glory displayed simplicity and humility in His first coming. Why did He come in simplicity? Let’s think about this by considering a few questions from this narrative.

1. Who rules the world?

Who rules the world? If we had lived in the first century, no doubt, we would have said, “Caesar Augustus.” As the great nephew of Julius Caesar, the first emperor (or dictator) of the Roman Empire, Octavian inherited the throne, but not without battles. After Julius Caesar’s assassination, Octavian, in partnership with Mark Anthony, defeated Brutus and Cassius in 42 B.C. at Philippi. He later conquered Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C., securing for himself the sole reign over the empire. The Roman Senate gave him the title “Augustus” (i.e. “majestic” or “revered”) in 27 B.C., which he combined with “Caesar” (meaning “emperor”), so that without rival, he reigned over the expansive Roman Empire for 41 years. He promoted the Caesar cult throughout his reign by which citizens worshiped him as a god. Some inscriptions even identified him as the son of Zeus, so Son of God.[1]

“Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth,” a term referring to the Roman Empire. “This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.” Caesar gave a decree or a written command to be carried out by provincial governors or legates, such as Quirinius who was governing in Syria, and everyone living in the Roman Empire had obligation to obey. That didn’t always happen, of course, and when it didn’t the Roman legion crushed any rebellion against Caesar’s commands, as happened in the census of 6 A.D. (see Acts 5:37). But they tried to avoid that.

Massive movements by various conquered people comprising the Roman Empire went to their [...]