“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.” -Luke 2:1
We’re all familiar with the popular (if biblically inaccurate) Christmas carol, “We Three Kings.” The trio frequently appears in Christmas pageants across the land. But there were three other kings who played a more direct role in the story of Jesus’ birth.
The first of those three kings was Caesar Augustus. The reason Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem was because Augustus had issued a decree that everyone in the empire should be registered. It might be the greatest benefit ever to accrue from taxation!
Augustus was the first emperor of Rome. Julius Caesar, who adopted Augustus, had fought a civil war and achieved supreme power in Rome. Yet his arrogance led him to disdain his enemies until their dagger blows rained down upon him. Octavian, as Augustus was then known, had to fight first against Brutus and his conspirators and then against Anthony, his former ally. Finally, after years of battling and conspiring across the known world, Octavian was the last man standing in the titanic battle for the Roman throne.
The problem for Augustus was that Rome ostensibly hated kings and prided itself on being a republic led by senators. So Augustus didn’t call himself a king. Instead, he took the name “Augustus,” which means “majestic, venerable,” and adopted the title “Princeps,” or first citizen. In truth, he was the most powerful person in the world. He ruled as Augustus from 27 BC until 14 AD. No one had ever exercised the power or wide-ranging influence he did. Augustus lived until he was almost 77. Unable to have children of his own, Augustus devoted much attention in his later years to finding a suitable heir. Being the first emperor, there was no precedent for a succession. He finally settled on Tiberius, his wife’s son.
When it appeared that Augustus was suffering from his final illness, he set things in motion so the succession to Tiberius would go smoothly. Then, as fate would have it, Augustus began to improve. Some historians believe his wife Livia gave him poisoned figs. This act may have been agreed upon earlier. Others suspect Livia feared he would change his mind about his heir, and she wanted to ensure her son remained his successor. Either way, it appears the most powerful man in the world died at the hands of his wife.
While Augustus was dying, he claimed, “I found Rome built of clay: I leave it to you in marble.” As he edged closer to death, he suddenly cried out in terror, “Forty young men are carrying me off!” Despite being wealthy and powerful, Augustus died.
Augustus was buried in a mausoleum that would eventually crumble from age and disrepair. He remains a prominent figure in ancient history but has long since become irrelevant to the world in which he lived.
“Then Herod, when he realized he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and younger . . .” -Matt. 2:16
The second king to make an appearance at Jesus’ birth was Herod the Great. He was a paranoid, egotistical, cruel man. He was not purely Jewish, so he was unqualified to be a Jewish king. Yet he vigorously pursued power. He managed to win Octavian’s favor and became the last official king of the Jews.
His problem was that the Jewish people despised him, and he knew it. He was only king because he had won the favor of the Roman emperor. In an attempt to win his people’s esteem, he launched various building projects. His greatest accomplishment was the temple in Jerusalem. He rebuilt it on an enormous scale that made it one of the architectural wonders of the world. It was not completed until shortly before it was destroyed in 70 AD.
Herod also built up the beautiful city of Caesarea on the coast. He constructed impressive palaces for himself, including the hideaway at Masada. He even built an entire mountain in which he intended to be buried. Yet no matter what he did, he knew he was not accepted by the Jewish people. This lack of support led him to some dark places. He constantly feared that his own family members were conspiring against him, so he had many of them killed. His paranoia was so rampant that when he heard that wise men had come from afar to see the new king, Herod ordered the death of every male child in the region around Bethlehem who was two and under.
It is said that Herod ordered his henchmen to kill 1,000 noblemen when he died so there would be weeping across the land that day. Herod ultimately died, and no one was sorry to see him go.
We should never forget that politics played a dominant role in the world when Jesus was born. People vied for power, and they fought to hold their offices from rivals. Depraved leaders did not hesitate to commit murder in order to retain their authority. Kings and emperors constructed fantastic palaces and rode in glittering chariots that awed the common people. Yet they all met their end and had to give an account to the third king who towered over the other two.
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” -Matt. 1:21
At the time Jesus was born, Augustus and Herod were in their prime. Compared to a baby born in a stable, the two earthly kings appeared far greater. But Jesus could do something no monarch on earth could dream of accomplishing: save people from their sin. Augustus might command invincible legions, but he could not forgive the slightest sin against God. Herod could build a magnificent temple, but he could not overcome evil in his own heart.
Two thousand years have passed, and Augustus and Herod have long since become dust. Yet King Jesus continues to rule supreme. His kingdom spreads to every corner of the globe. The spiritual realm is firmly under his rule. No sin ever committed, regardless of how heinous, is too great for Christ to forgive and cleanse. No situation is hopeless. Time has not diminished the might and awesomeness of his rule.
Had you been around when Jesus was born and witnessed Augustus in his imperial splendor, Herod in his magnificent palaces, and Jesus in a feeding trough, you might have assumed baby Jesus was the least powerful. You would have been wrong.
Today, our world is dominated by politically and economically influential leaders. But history proves that they will come and go. They cannot change time. They cannot cheat death. And they cannot provide a remedy for sin.
Yet one King remains just as powerful today as he was thousands of years ago. We celebrate him each Christmas. Many kings were ruling around the world when Jesus was born, but he was the only one who truly mattered.
