Read Luke 2:6-9  

Saviour

Thanks to Luke we know Augustus was Caesar of the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus’ birth.

Born Caius Octavious, after becoming head of the Roman Empire, he consulted with the Roman Senate, and they conferred upon him the title “Augustus.” The name was significant because it came from the Roman concept of an “augur”, a term describing a priest who discerned the will of the gods by interpreting natural signs they believed were sent by the gods. By choosing this name for himself, Augustus was able to subtly combine the twin roles of government and religion, ultimately leading to the worship of Caesar as god.

Augustus also brought the Pax Romana – the Roman Peace – to the Empire by putting an end to the civil wars of Rome and brutally crushing any opposition to his reign elsewhere. When Rome was at war, the doors of the Temple of Janus were kept wide open, and in times of peace they were kept shut. When Jesus was born, the doors had been closed for over a decade and would stay closed for 30 years.

For these achievements, Augustus was given the name “the Great Heavenly Saviour” by the Egyptians and coins minted during his reign described him as “Son of God.”

This is what makes the angel’s announcement that “today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour” so striking!

The Saviour of the world is not found in the majestic palace of the Emperor of Rome but lying in a dirty animal feeding trough in an obscure Jewish village.

And the Saviour of the world does not bring peace through a ruthless display of his power, but through the weakness and humility of a baby.

Saviour simply means “Deliverer”, and this is what Jesus came to do, deliver us from sin and death, bringing us peace; not by crushing us, but by shining God’s light into our darkness.

No wonder the angel called Him Saviour!