Teaching Latin has introduced me to the history of the Roman Empire surrounding the time of Jesus’s birth. For example, the Latin words for the numbers seven-Septem, eight-Octavus, nine-Novem, and ten-Decem all align with the ending months from our calendar. However, the numbers are off by two. September is now our ninth month, October our tenth, November our eleventh, and December our twelfth. When Julius Caesar ruled Rome as a dictator between 46-44 B.C., he adapted the ten-month Roman calendar to coincide with Egypt’s twelve-month calendar, which also included a five-day addition in between the twelve months to equal the 365-day year we now have.
Incidentally, this also introduces the Pharaoh of Egypt at the time, Cleopatra, to world history. Seeking to cement her power, Cleopatra had a relationship with Julius Caesar that gave them a son together. At Julius Caesar’s untimely murder, however, he had not named their son his heir, and his great-nephew, Octavius, gained the honor of ruling. However, Brutus, Marc Antony, and a general named Lepidus also vied for power. Octavius was able to conquer Brutus, leading to Brutus taking his own life. However, for a time, the three remaining men formed a triumvirate, a three-man government. Octavius was not content with this arrangement and sought to remove the other men one by one. He succeeded in defeating Lepidus, but he still had to contend with Marc Antony.
Cleopatra, who had been left out of Caesar’s will, now scrambled to make a new alliance with Rome, so she chose Marc Antony as her next hope. They had three more children together, and later married, but Octavius defeated Marc Antony at the Battle of Actium when Cleopatra inexplicably removed her ships from the battle, and Antony followed with a few of his own. The remaining troops surrendered, Antony retreated to Egypt, and Octavius defeated both Cleopatra and Antony to finally gain full control of Rome. Antony and Cleopatra took their own lives to avoid capture. Cleopatra’s oldest son was killed, and the three younger were given to Marc Antony’s first wife to raise. Octavius, known in the Bible as Caesar Augustus, later called for everyone in the Roman Empire to return to their hometowns to be taxed, leading to the fulfillment of Micah 5:2. God was still in control of it all, fulfilling His promise made more than four hundred years previous.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
This history demonstrates the kind of brokenness into which Jesus was born. Yet, He did not come to vie for the power of Rome. Jesus could have been born into royalty, but He chose poverty and obscurity. He did not kill His enemies; He came to die for them. Up to this point in history, humility meant weakness and defeat. Jesus made humility the ideal attribute of humanity by surrendering everything men held dear. When He robbed death of its power at His resurrection, Jesus redefined what it meant to be broken. Brokenness now became the first stop on the turning point toward hope. He came to restore this broken world with Himself as the bridge of escape.
If you are facing a broken Christmas: a Christmas without a loved one, a prodigal dealing with addiction, a marriage on the brink of ending, a terminal illness, or any other disappointing circumstance, know that Christmas is synonymous with hope for just such a sorrow. This world is so temporary, as Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, and Augustus Caesar all eventually realized. They gained everything they desired for a very short time but lost everything the moment they took their final breaths. If we can learn anything from history, it is that your name can go down in history without making it into the Book that matters.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12,15
On the other hand, if you are facing all the brokenness this world has to offer, there is an eternal hope that stands just on the other side of this very temporary season. Not only does the Present Jesus offered through the hope of the Gospel give eternal life, but His Presence will walk you through the broken world we still live in.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13
If you are facing a broken Christmas this year, know that you are not alone. Jesus knows, He sees, and He cares. As long as Jesus lives, there is hope for every kind of brokenness. I am praying for you, my friend. As always, please reach out if there is anything I can pray for you about or any questions I can answer.
Merry Christmas!
His Song in the Night 