God Chooses the Common

Article for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025

Luke 2:1–3 1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

Ah! Don’t you just love those politicians?  These, like all politicians, come up with more ways to cost people more money.  Taxes were already being collected but efficiency collects more.  Caesar needed a concise means to ensure he could collect the most taxes to keep getting richer under the auspice of government cost.  Not to say there isn’t government costs, but one million denarians for a chariot wheel is a bit much.

A census or as it is put here a registration isn’t bad as it might seem.  Taxation as well is not entirely a bad idea.  If we are to have a government, then we need to support it by some means.  If we have a good efficient government then our taxes are well spent.  If we have a crooked less efficient government then our taxes are feeding not the rich but those politicians who say they are doing crooked things for our benefit.

A journey must be made and everyone had to go back to their hometown to be registered.  For us to go back to our hometown to be registered would be an inconvenience, but not as much as it was for the people at this time, including Joseph and Mary.  There were no buses, planes, or trains.  They made a seventy-mile trek on foot that took three to four days.  And being pregnant as well!  We could travel seventy miles in an hour and ten minutes but for Joseph and Mary it will be days.

Luke 2:4–5 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

This was not an easy journey as Joseph took Mary on top of a donkey and traveled paths and rough-cut roads to get from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  The terrain was hilly and somewhat mountainous.  The experts say they probably went by way of the Jordan River to bypass Samaria.  Samaria being a people the Jews despised because they mixed Judaism with pagan religions.

This was not a journey they chose to take but one that was forced upon them by the government run by Caesar Augustus.  Maybe they journeyed alone or maybe they journeyed with a caravan also going to Bethlehem for the very same reasons, the census for taxation.  This journey was also made to keep in line with the Holy Scriptures of their day.

Luke 2:6–7 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

After a long and rough journey, Joseph and Mary found the inn belonging to their relatives was full and that they would have to spend the night in a stable with the animals.  Sounds like most of our luck doesn’t it, after long struggles we find yet another struggle to endure and tax our patience. 

But for every struggle there is a light that shines with blessings we sometimes don’t see and sometimes do.  Mary gives birth to her first born and God the Father’s first and only born.  The light at the end of every struggle is Jesus Christ.  A savior is born, and we celebrate His birth for it is also the birth of things to come.  Good things to come for all whom will believe.

Luke 2:8–9 8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

God always has a way to open our eyes, and this was one of those times.  This, the Savior, was not going to be something hidden from God’s people.  God has been telling His people Israel that a Savior was coming and now is the time that the Savior is born.  Shepherds who worked long hours tending their herds of sheep, the common workers of the day, will be told of this great thing. 

God chooses the common to tell rather than the royalty of the land.  The royal, who might have tried to hide the fact of this Holy birth.  Rather it is the core of God’s people Israel or the common population that God speaks to the most.  Why?  Because many times the royal have riches blocking their ears from hearing and their eyes from seeing the truth.

Fear not you who are common for God sees you as the richest in His kingdom of heaven.  We who struggle and keep our faith are far richer than the man who stands by the 200-year-old dead tree he claims is still going strong.  My riches are not in gold but in the love of God.  Fear not for it is we commoners who will hear the good news.

Luke 2:10–12 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

This little baby child of true pure innocence will be clothed in a poor commoner’s rags.  This is a true king, the one who knows His people because He is just like them.  God created man in His image and turned around and came in our image.  He is the commoner’s king for He is the commoner’s brother in Christ Jesus.

Jesus lived a commoner’s life wearing commoner’s clothing to be with the common people and the common sinner.  This is our Lord and Savior; He is one who truly understands our needs and our poverty in this world. 

Luke 2:13–14 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

      Whom God is pleased are those who know that Jesus Christ came to know us and die for us.  We the common people are whom God is pleased.  Jesus Christ died for our sins, those who believe.  This is true, whether you are rich or poor or anywhere in between, Jesus Christ died for our sins bringing us forgiveness of sins.  Jesus was raised from the dead to show us the path we will follow to everlasting life, and there will be a new common among us.  Amen

      Written by Pastor Curtis A. May