Deeper Reflection
Significant details of the birth of John the Baptist and the conception of Jesus the Messiah were described in Luke chapter 1. They were all in preparation for the event of human history: the coming of the Christ child! In chapter 2, Dr Luke recorded the details of Jesus’ birth – it was during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus; and after Joseph and Mary travelled from Galilee in Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea to register for the census as per Augustus’ decree (vv.1-3). All these events and movement were part of the eternal, sovereign plan of God. None of these things happened by chance! They were the fulfilment of a prophecy made some 700 years earlier: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, … from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days” (Mic 5:2). There are no accidents of history! Luke’s detailing of the historical setting of Jesus’ birth is not incidental. Through it, we can see the sovereign hand of God in history. He directs its course to fulfil His sovereign purposes. A baby in the womb cannot tell his parents at which time and location to give birth to him. Micah 5:2 is a prophecy that cannot be the subject of self-fulfilment. Jesus the Saviour of the world was born at the exact time and location, and in the specific historical and cultural context, that God purposed and appointed from eternity. God’s hand holds sovereign control over all of human history – past, present and future.

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²⁴ Colossians 1:16-17. ²⁵ Romans 8:28-29 ²⁶ Psalm 34:9-10, 17-20.