July 9 Bad News to Good News

Luke 2:1-3 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
 
THESE words seem fairly simple. Orders are given; it’s time to go pay the tax. But when you read these words, do you see the very bad news here? More taxes are certainly bad news for such poor Jews as Joseph and Mary. But the bad news goes deeper than money. It goes to the very soul of a nation. Rome rules Israel is as bad as news can be. Caesar Augustus and Quirinius are Romans. Rome controlled Israel. Israel’s people were subject to Rome’s intention to move as much wealth out of the country as possible to help fund Rome’s domination.
     Another aspect of this passage represents a point in history. Luke wants to give evidence of the timeframe, day and month (actually October) when Jesus was born. The more deliberate he can be of the circumstances around that time, the more we can trust Jesus truly was born in Bethlehem. This also helps historically define Jesus’ ministry time, his death, his resurrection and his ascension. One fact helps lead to another. True steps lead to the true God.
     The truth is, God sent his Son into the midst of political oppression at just the right time and into the right circumstances. It may seem odd our Lord would come when Rome ruled. But God turned the bad news into good news. He actually used Rome’s bondage over Israel as a means to spread the gospel into the world and to begin his church. The Roman Empire would actually be tolerant for a time of this new religion. Many of the new churches were founded within its borders. The Roman government would be a refuge to the early apostles as they escaped from the hatred of the Jews, who were the first persecutors of Christ’s church. In addition, Rome’s good roads and effective mail system would help transmit the gospel. too.
     Consider, also, that the oppressive nation Rome would later become one of the first nations to proclaim Christianity as an acceptable religion. In these ways, the “bad news nation” became a “good news nation”.
God is sovereign. He raises governments and deposes governments for his purposes. Certainly we can see much bad news in our nations. Let’s keep our eyes focused, though, on God. He will use all things for the good of his Kingdom come one day to earth.
    
Prayer: Lord, use our governments as a means of spreading the good news. Amen.