LifeWay Bible Studies for Life Series for December 25: A taxing situation

Taxes are nothing new, so it’s not strange Jesus’ birth happened during a time when Jews were required to return to their hometowns for registration and to pay their taxes. At the time, there were plenty of small bands of Jewish zealots who roamed the countryside attacking Romans, so keeping tabs on the populace was a tall order for the occupying army.  And, there’s also little doubt Caesar felt his army should be financed by the very country it was occupying.  Simply put, this was not a time of rejoicing by the Jewish people.

The Jewish populace didn’t like paying taxes any more than the majority of us do, but the Roman equivalent of our IRS was determined to squeeze every last penny out of everyone under Caesar’s rule. It possibly was some bureaucrat who suggested everybody be required to go to their hometown to cough up their taxes. And, while this rule, obviously, helped the local economies of towns, the primary purpose was government control.

Even with our computers and the knowledge we have gathered over the centuries, census taking is a difficult task. Imagine what it was like back then. But, strangely enough, the Roman government seemed to do a pretty good job of keeping tabs of everyone under its rule.

Joseph probably made a modest living as a carpenter.  And he probably was scrupulously honest about paying his taxes. People didn’t get to travel all that much, so one would think returning to his hometown would give him a chance to see family—other kin who were descendants of the great King David. But if he had family there, wouldn’t they have taken him and Mary in? Or is it possible his relationship with Mary made him the black sheep of the family?

Mary was expecting any day, and the rough donkey ride from Nazareth to Bethlehem was just the thing to induce labor. She was ready to have the baby before they found a place to stay in Bethlehem.

Accommodations were scarce—even for people with a lot of money. Joseph’s socioeconomic status probably didn’t help the situation. So they ended up in a stable, where the baby was born.

It’s a bit strange that shepherds were brought into the scenario. Sheep don't make much noise and neither do the shepherds. At night, after the sheep had settled down, we can imagine the shepherds building themselves a little fire, sitting around and talking about whatever shepherds talk about.

Suddenly the quiet Bethlehem skies were filled with a brilliant bright light, which must have caused some fear and trembling on the part of the shepherds.  They were reassured by an angel who brought great news—the long prophesied Messiah was born.

Then the angel even gave directions to find this baby, not in some kingly place but in a stable.

Thousands of angels lit up the sky, so chills must have run up the spines of the shepherds as they worshipped God with the angels. Then the angels proclaimed peace and good will toward men. That had to surprise the shepherds, who along with all the good Jewish people were hoping for an overthrow of the Roman government. But, the angels seemed to want peace on earth—and they wanted it right now.

They finally realized everyone had seen and heard the same thing. It was miraculous. They must have decided the Lord could tend the sheep for one night, so they headed for town to see the Christ child.

Scripture doesn’t tell us they were surprised to find the baby and his mother in a stable, but they must have been—and, after all, they probably still were in shock from what they had witnessed. They also had to be filled with wonder and awe when they laid their eyes on that beautiful baby—a baby that would change the destiny of all humankind. The shepherds all knelt down and worshipped the little baby that was the Messiah, the Savior of the world, just as the angels had promised. They must have realized they were standing at the breaking point of human history.

So what did the shepherds do after seeing the Christ-child? They did what everyone who has experienced Jesus is commanded to do: they spread the word about him and about what they had been told to all who would listen.  And, those who heard and accepted their word were amazed at what they had been told.

In a sense, the shepherds were the first disciples and evangelists. They didn’t necessarily know how to present the gospel as the apostles did, but they weren’t reluctant to share the good news they had.

God always has been about the Great Commission. It began in Genesis with the proclamation of a Messiah, Old Testament prophets took the message to everyone who would listen, the voices of angels shook the very hillsides around Bethlehem with news of his birth, and shepherds saw him and heralded the news to everyone within earshot.

Like those shepherds, we all are supposed to be messengers of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection. We must not allow anyone to stop us from telling others Jesus has come into the world, died for our sins,  and is alive and reigns supreme in the hearts of everyone who believes in him and accepts him as Lord and Savior.