Luke 2:1-7
Very little, if any is known about the authorship of this carol. The author is anonymous. What we do know is that it is steeped with influence from the reformer, Martin Luther. The melody was first published under the title “Luther’s Cradle Hymn”, by James Murray in 1887. It quickly became very popular. It is one of the simplest, yet theologically profound works designed as a children’s song. Based on Luke 2:7, I want to set the context of the song by unpacking verses 1-7.
The Registration was Rigged (Luke 2:1-3) Caesar means emperor and Augustus means honored. His real name shortened in English is Octavian. A census was usually called for two reasons, to register men for war or for taxation. Jews were exempt from serving in the Roman military; therefore, taxation was the purpose of this census. Some scholars note that the term Governor in this context could refer to any Roman government official. This meant that Quirinius could have held different offices at different times. It’s the first one within his office, yet Roman was known to conduct censuses. God uses man’s ways to do His will. Listen to Romans 13:1 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
The Prophecy of Faith was Fulfilled (Luke 2:4-5) The law of that time would allow for individuals to register where they were currently living, but if someone owned land, they had to go in person. Also it was Jewish custom to be more connected to your ancestral home than your current location. Joseph was from the line of David; therefore, Bethlehem was the place. A deadline had been made, requiring Joseph and Mary to travel the distance of 70 to 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem so close to the Jesus’ birth. It’s a two hour drive today in a car. It was prophesied by Micah and recorded in chapter 5 verse 2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” Well pastor, couldn’t that refer to King David? The importance is the timing! King David was long dead when Micah prophesied this. We also look at Isaiah’s prophesy which really leads us into verses 6-7. Listen to Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
The King Brings Courage Over Comfort (Luke 2:6-7) The manger is significant on so many levels. It identifies the King of all creation came to earth not to be served, but to suffer, and be the sacrifice. He came because of His great love for you and me! He came to be available to every tribe, nation, and tongue. He came to be introduced to every class of people. He is for the haves and the have nots. We have courage in this world knowing we will have comfort in the next. I want to dispel a myth. The Greek word for Inn in this context is not the normal word used to describe a place of lodging. The place of lodging word is used in Luke 10:34. This word is translated as guest room. We give the innkeeper a bad rap, but chances are it was a place in which caravans stopped and it was full. I’m not sure that anyone was at fault, but God was at work. Can you imagine as the shepherds came, they could identify with this child? They had lived a life of discomfort, sleeping in the fields. Christ came to give us courage, not necessarily comfort. Isaiah shows this Savior as the suffering servant in Isaiah 53:1-12 which I challenge you to look at later. Listen to verses 2 and 3 of chapter 53. “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Jesus said this about Himself and recorded by Luke in 9:58 “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” What should this tell us? God did not care the cost, He loves you! Away in the Manger is designed to show and share the reality of His great love! The humanity of God! You are loved! You are loved more than life itself!