Early on the morning of September 23rd . . .

Early on the morning of September 23^rd in the year 63 B.C., a baby was born in the wealthy Palatine Quarter of the city of Rome.  A messenger stood ready, and immediately upon hearing the news “It’s a boy!” raced to the Senate building and breathlessly announced to the waiting assembly, “The ruler of the world is born.”

The child’s name was Octavius.  At the relatively young age of 20 he, together with Lepidus and Marc Anthony, ruled the Roman Empire following the assassination of Julius Caesar.  However, by the time he was 33, he had successfully had Lepidus removed, and then went on to defeat Marc Anthony, along with his co-conspirator Cleopatra.  Thus, what was declared at Octavius’ birth eventually proved true—he was, indeed, “the ruler of the world.”

In honor of his accomplishment the Roman Senate renamed him “Caesar Augustus.”  He is considered by many to have been the greatest Caesar of them all, because he turned “Caesar” into more than just a name.  Following his reign it became a title, representing immense power and control.  At his bidding, ships of war sailed and legions of soldiers marched.  Even today, he is immortalized in our calendar, as the eighth month bears his name.

Toward the end of his life, when Octavius was around 66, another baby was born.  Unlike Octavius, this baby was not born in a swanky neighborhood of Rome, but in a small, remote village called Bethlehem.  Unlike Octavius, this baby was not surrounded by senators and dignitaries, but by shepherds and livestock.  However, like Octavius, a messenger was also dispatched to announce the news of his birth: “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

We never really tire of this story, do we?  Even though we’ve heard it countless times before, each and every year we still relish in both its joy and surprise.  Why the joy?  On one level, the triumph of the powerless over the powerful is always a story that causes us to cheer.  Caesar Augustus may have thought he was the ruler of the world,  but we all know who the real ruler is.  However, on a deeper level, the announcement that God has actually come to live among us is news that can only be greeted with shouts of joy and thanksgiving!

And why the surprise?  I don’t believe that it is simply because God came to us.  After all, coming to us is part of God’s nature.  The surprise is found in the startling manner in which the Almighty chose to arrive.  Who would have ever imagined that the Creator of the entire cosmos would decide to show up here on earth as a little child?

And yet, this baby—fragile, vulnerable, and subject to disease and sickness; this baby—waking at all hours of the night and spitting up sour milk on his mother’s blouse; this baby—the very image of powerlessness and dependency—accomplished more than Caesar Augustus, in all his glory, ever dreamed possible!