And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
Luke 2:1

The first name mentioned in the Christmas story is not Mary or Joseph, or even Jesus. It is Caesar Augustus. This man was great by virtually any measure. He was the adopted son of Julius, who in effect founded the Roman Empire. Augustus was a great military commander, defeating his arch rival Mark Antony for control of the empire. He was a great religious reformer; one who believed that immorality and a lack of religion threatened the very fabric of Roman society. He enacted many laws that promoted religion and morals, proclaiming himself the high priest of the religion of Rome.

This great man said he wanted the people of the empire to be counted, and that each had to go back to his own ancestral home to do so—and the world did as Augustus bid them. Out of the millions of people who populated the Roman Empire, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem where their son Jesus was born.

Augustus certainly never read their names on any census form—they simply were not important. And yet, when historians mark the date of Augustus’ death, they say he died in 14 A.D. The death of this once great man is dated in time based on the birth of the One not important enough to find a room in Bethlehem that holy night. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but Jesus endures forever.