LEARN TO LIVE, LIVE TO LEARN
“To know much and taste nothing-of what use is that?” ―St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio
"Dear Kuya Jeff, besides the decree for a census in the Roman world during Jesus' birth, is there any additional importance or significance to the inclusion of Caesar Augustus in the Christmas narrative?" - R.V. Luke's account of the birth of Jesus begins with a reference to Augustus Caesar. It is easy to rapidly move on to the rest of the passage, and so put Augustus Caesar out of our minds. Luke doesn't waste words making his point. He has an economy of words when it comes to unfolding the story. In fact, Luke’s account goes on to make a sustained comparison of the Baby Jesus with the Emperor Augustus Caesar: 1. SON OF GOD. Julius Caesar, who became the adoptive father of Augustus Caesar, was deified, elevating him to godlike status in the perception of the Romans. Augustus Caesar, as the inaugural Roman emperor, embraced a distinctive title, his favored one being "Divi filius," translating to "son of a god" in Latin. Additionally, he permitted the veneration of himself as a living deity. Notably, Herod commissioned the construction of three temples devoted to the worship of Augustus Caesar in Samaria, Caesarea Philippi, and Damascus. On the other hand, Jesus was the only person to be born of a mortal mother, Mary, and an immortal father, God the Father. That is why Jesus is called the Only Begotten Son of God. The Scriptures speak of Jesus' Sonship by God in multiple ways: * Luke 1:35 - "The angel replied, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.'" * Luke 4:41 - "Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak." * Mark 14:61-62 - "But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?' Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.'" * Luke 1:32 - "He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David." * Mark 3:11 - "And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, 'You are the Son of God!'" * Matthew 14:33 - "Then the disciples worshiped him. 'You really are the Son of God!' they exclaimed." * Matthew 16:15-16 - "Then he asked them, 'But who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'" 2. HIGH PRIEST Augustus took the title of pontifex maximus or chief high priest for political gain, in an attempt to restore traditional Roman values. With this attribution, the new office of Emperor was given a religious dignity and the responsibility for the entire Roman state cult. In the book of Hebrews, Jesus is called a High Priest. The word “priest” carries a couple of primary meanings. First, it means one who mediates in religious services. It also means one who is holy or set apart to perform those services. In Jesus, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tested like us in every way, yet without sin. 3. PRINCE OF PEACE Caesar Augustus ascended to power during a period of remarkable peace within the vast Roman Empire. Positioned near the Mediterranean Sea, Rome held the distinction of being the world's largest city at that time. Augustus, through his astute leadership, achieved the seemingly impossible task of establishing peace in regions with a history of conflict. His governance brought about significant advancements and reforms across various domains, including the taxation system, infrastructure, military forces, security, and postal services. The empire, under Augustus, boasted a population of 90 million people, constituting roughly 20% of the world population during his reign. This unprecedented era of peace, lasting around 200 years, became known as the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace. In contrast, the Bible, specifically Isaiah 9:6, refers to a child given to us, identified as the Prince of Peace. Jesus holds this title because He alone possesses the ability to bring genuine peace, restoration, redemption, and reconciliation among individuals, God, and others. The foundation of harmonious living with all of God's creation rests on having the right relationship with Him. Jesus, as the Prince of Peace, eradicates our fears of death and offers the invaluable gift of eternal life. Furthermore, as the Son of God, Jesus becomes the Prince of Peace to enable us, the children of God, to become peacemakers. With the peace of God reigning in our lives, we anticipate a glimpse of heaven on earth as we eagerly await the second coming of the Prince of Peace. 4. FIRST CITIZEN The designation "Princeps Civitatis" or "First Citizen" served as an official title for Augustus during his reign as Emperor of the Roman Empire, marking the establishment of the principate Roman imperial system. Conversely, Jesus holds the title of the "first-born of all creation," signifying His unique status as distinct from a created being but rather as one with the eternal Creator. In the divine order, God utilized Christ as the agent of creation and redemption for the world. Psalm 89:27 emphasizes God's declaration, stating, "I will make Him My first-born, higher than the kings of the earth." Similarly, the apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians 1:15-20, underscores the preeminence of Jesus, declaring that He holds the foremost position in all aspects. During the intense scene of the crucifixion, the Jews declared, "We have no king but Caesar!" as recorded in John 19:15. As Christmas approaches, consider to whom you are directing your worship and admiration — Augustus Caesar or Christ Jesus. The symbol of a regal birth, of a king of royalty, doesn't manifest in grandeur or power. Instead, it appears as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a humble manger. This infant is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Eternal High Priest, the Prince of Peace, and the First-Born of all creation. A blessed Christmas and a grace-filled 2024 to all.
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
July 2024
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