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Rise of the Emperor · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Have this in mind which was also in Christ Jesus, who,
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  Speaker 1: existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with
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  Speaker 1: God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking
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  Speaker 1: the form of a servant, being made in the likeness
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  Speaker 1: of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself,
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  Speaker 1: becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death
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  Speaker 1: of the cross. Philippians 2, 5-8 Dear Lord, we are
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  Speaker 1: in awe of the gift of you, who left the
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  Speaker 1: splendor of heaven to be born in a humble manger.
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  Speaker 1: May your selfless love and humility inspire us to live
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  Speaker 1: lives of compassion, kindness, and self-sacrifice. As we celebrate your birth,
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  Speaker 1: our Savior, help us to embrace the spirit of giving,
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  Speaker 1: not just in presence, but in presence, offering our time, love,
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  Speaker 1: and empathy to those around us. May the miracle of
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  Speaker 1: Christmas fill our hearts with gratitude and joy. And may
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  Speaker 1: we strive to walk in your footsteps of sharing your
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  Speaker 1: love with the world in need. In your precious name
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  Speaker 1: we pray. Amen.
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  Speaker 2: The entire world resided in the shadow of Rome. Julius Caesar,
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  Speaker 2: emperor and genius, reached out his hand and seized power
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  Speaker 2: wherever he could. His authority went unquestioned, and his sword
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  Speaker 2: found the necks of many foes. It was an era
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  Speaker 2: steeped in strife and unrest when men forged their destinies
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  Speaker 2: amidst the anvil of war and the hammer of politics.
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  Speaker 2: As the glory of Rome was about to blossom under
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  Speaker 2: Julius Caesar, a child was born into the world. Little
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  Speaker 2: did anyone know, this child would one day be worshipped
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  Speaker 2: as a god. He would amass followers from nations around
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  Speaker 2: the ancient world, rallying them under his name. This child
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  Speaker 2: was born in the zenith of Roman potential. His name
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  Speaker 2: was Octavian.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. We're taking time from now
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  Speaker 3: until Christmas to explore the rich and powerful story of
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  Speaker 3: the Nativity. If the Jesus podcast has blessed you, consider
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  Speaker 3: following and subscribing to the podcast so you never miss
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  Speaker 3: an episode. So far, we've surveyed some of the prophecies
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  Speaker 3: heralding the coming of Jesus. We saw how the Messiah's
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  Speaker 3: coming was foretold from the beginning. The hope and longing
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  Speaker 3: for a Redeemer endured throughout the generations. Before we're introduced
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  Speaker 3: to our classic Christmas heroes like Zachariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph,
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  Speaker 3: we're going back into the annals of history. Jesus was
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  Speaker 3: born into a unique time in history where the boot
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  Speaker 3: of Rome was pressing against the throat of Israel. The
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  Speaker 3: cruel rule of Caesar Augustus spread across the ancient world.
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  Speaker 3: Let's tune in now to this cinematic retelling of Caesar's
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  Speaker 3: rise to power. We will explore why this story is
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  Speaker 3: paramount to the Christmas message.
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  Speaker 2: Octavian was born under the lineage of Caesar. He was
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  Speaker 2: the adored son of the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar, his
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  Speaker 2: illustrious uncle, was considered a titan among mortals. He claimed
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  Speaker 2: swaths of land for the Roman Empire with brutality and force.
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  Speaker 2: But where power and conquest bloom, so do the forms
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  Speaker 2: of treachery. Julius Caesar fell beneath a blade wielded by
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  Speaker 2: his kin, leaving an empire fractured and trembling on the
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  Speaker 2: brink of chaos. Rome was vulnerable and in disarray. Young
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  Speaker 2: Octavian was ready to rise in his uncle's place, determined
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  Speaker 2: to lift Rome and carry its glory on his shoulders.
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  Speaker 2: As Octavian strode for power, he was flanked by Mark
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  Speaker 2: Anthony and Lepidus, generals in the armies of Caesar. The
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  Speaker 2: three men all claimed Rome as theirs, but only one
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  Speaker 2: could be emperor. Their clash was titanic, splitting the Empire
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  Speaker 2: into three realms. Each leader had command over his dominion,
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  Speaker 2: but Octavian would not be denied the throne. Anthony and
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  Speaker 2: Octavian stood as adversaries on the battlefield. Anthony's rage boiled
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  Speaker 2: against Octavian. If the East is to be mine, Anthony declared...
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  Speaker 2: his eyes hard with resolve. Then let it be known
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  Speaker 2: that I will not bow to you, Octavian. Not in
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  Speaker 2: this lifetime. So the dance began, with each ruler amassing
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  Speaker 2: legions of loyal warriors. Their eyes alight with the fire
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  Speaker 2: of the one true king they believed in. The war
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  Speaker 2: was brutal, and the once-united Rome risked consuming.
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  Speaker 1: Itself from within.
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  Speaker 2: Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt amassed an army
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  Speaker 2: they believed to be unrivaled. Blood soaked the sand as
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  Speaker 2: swords and shields clashed. Although their troops were fierce, Octavian
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  Speaker 2: was undeterred by the staggering might of Anthony and Cleopatra.
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  Speaker 2: He masterfully marshaled his men and slaughtered the armies of Anthony.
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  Speaker 2: Lepidus was next, and his troops were subdued and banished
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  Speaker 2: to the far north. On a battlefield now hallowed by
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  Speaker 2: the blood and honor of countless men, Octavian, the victor,
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  Speaker 2: stood surveying the horizon. He was alone. the last man
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  Speaker 2: standing amidst the ruins of a rivalry that had swallowed
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  Speaker 2: all hope. He stood over the battlefield and marched towards
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  Speaker 2: the summit, overlooking the carnage. His rivals had been defeated,
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  Speaker 2: and no one was left to stand in his way.
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  Speaker 2: His breath misted the cool air as he whispered, I.
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  Speaker 1: Am no longer Octavian. I am Caesar Augustus.
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  Speaker 2: War wounds ravaged the Roman Empire, and its people desperately
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  Speaker 2: sought peace. With the mantle of power secure on his shoulders,
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  Speaker 2: Caesar Augustus set out to heal his empire. I have
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  Speaker 2: dreamed of a Rome reborn, he addressed the masses, his
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  Speaker 2: voice resonating through the crowd's silence. Today we embark on
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  Speaker 2: a journey towards that dream. His rule brought stability, silencing
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  Speaker 2: the discord that had torn at the very fabric of Rome.
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  Speaker 2: Yet the taste of power was addictive, and Augustus sought
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  Speaker 2: to climb to divine heights. He reduced the Roman Senate
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  Speaker 2: to mere whispers in the hallways of power, himself rising
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  Speaker 2: above the mortal coils to be revered as a god.
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  Speaker 2: His soldiers were disciples now, his governors, his apostles, all
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  Speaker 2: bending their knees in supplication to their lord and god.
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  Speaker 2: The shadow of Rome enveloped the nation of Israel. Israelites
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  Speaker 2: watched in quiet dismay, their homeland slowly losing its identity
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  Speaker 2: under Roman dominance. Rome's insidious influence diluted their once proud culture.
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  Speaker 2: It was like being under the boot of Babylon once again.
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  Speaker 2: Amid subjugation and tragedy, they clung to God and cried
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  Speaker 2: out to him for salvation. The pain of their oppression
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  Speaker 2: fueled their longing for a hero, a redeemer. They clung
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  Speaker 2: to the words of the prophecy spoken to David long ago.
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  Speaker 2: When your days are over, I will establish the throne
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  Speaker 2: of his kingdom forever. The people yearn for the promised savior,
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  Speaker 2: a beacon in the desolation to restore their land and
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  Speaker 2: their dignity. Isaiah's words echoed in their hearts. The people
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  Speaker 2: walking in darkness have seen a great light. They waited,
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  Speaker 2: their eyes brimming with hope, their hearts heavy with expectation.
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  Speaker 2: They imagined a ruler that would rival Caesar Augustus. They
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  Speaker 2: envisioned a Messiah who would reclaim the Holy Mount and
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  Speaker 2: thwart the armies of Rome. They imagined conquest like David
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  Speaker 2: and riches like Solomon. Yet, as the wheel of fate turned,
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  Speaker 2: no one could have anticipated the form their redemption would take.
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  Speaker 2: Caesar Augustus, emperor and god. Families would disrupt their lives
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  Speaker 2: and travel to the homeland of their kin to be counted.
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  Speaker 2: This census, another example of Rome's power, would make way
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  Speaker 2: for the Messiah to be born.
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  Speaker 3: Let's unpack the story of Caesar Augustus together. You may
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  Speaker 3: wonder why we highlighted a part of Caesar's story in
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  Speaker 3: a Christmas podcast. It's because Octavian's rise to power sets
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  Speaker 3: the stage for the Messiah to be born. The tale
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  Speaker 3: of Octavian's ascent to the throne is vital for us
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  Speaker 3: to understand because we wouldn't have the Christmas story without it.
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  Speaker 3: His expansive reach into the Eastern world enveloped Israel. Although
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  Speaker 3: the Pax Romana brought unprecedented peace to the Roman Empire,
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  Speaker 3: God's people were pressed for all they had. Increased taxes
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  Speaker 3: and Roman regulation were the crucibles for religious radicals and self-righteousness.
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  Speaker 3: That oppression began a domino effect of events that led
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  Speaker 3: to Jesus' birth. Most notably, the census that would take
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  Speaker 3: Mary and Joseph away from Nazareth and to Bethlehem. This
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  Speaker 3: story also contrasts the reigning kingdom of Rome and the
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  Speaker 3: incoming kingdom of Christ. Octavian's rise as the sole ruler
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  Speaker 3: of Rome marked a turning point in history. All of
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  Speaker 3: the ancient world was enveloped under his rule, including Israel.
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  Speaker 3: In the times of Moses, David, and Elijah, the idols
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  Speaker 3: of the age were gods like Baal, Dagon, and Asherah.
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  Speaker 3: They were false Canaanite gods who entrapped the people of
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  Speaker 3: Israel in false worship. Yet during the time of Jesus, Peter,
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  Speaker 3: and Paul, the false god was Caesar. Through sheer force
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  Speaker 3: and willpower, he made himself to be like a god.
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  Speaker 3: He demanded the worship of his followers, and whoever defied
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  Speaker 3: him faced death. But while Caesar's rule was marked with
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  Speaker 3: brutality and self-glorification, Jesus' rule was marked by grace and self-sacrifice.
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  Speaker 3: Christmas is not only a time to celebrate the birth
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  Speaker 3: of Jesus Christ, but it's also an opportunity to reflect
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  Speaker 3: on the kingdom he brought into this world. This kingdom
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  Speaker 3: stands in sharp contrast to the kingdoms of this world,
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  Speaker 3: represented most vividly by Caesar Augustus. During the festive season,
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  Speaker 3: let's explore these contrasts. In the era when Christ was born,
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  Speaker 3: Caesar Augustus ruled a vast empire. His kingdom was one
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  Speaker 3: of conquest, political intrigue, and earthly power. He sought to
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  Speaker 3: unify people under the banner of Rome, but his methods
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  Speaker 3: were often forceful and self-serving. In stark contrast, Jesus came
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  Speaker 3: to establish a kingdom not of this world. His reign
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  Speaker 3: is one of peace, justice, and righteousness, founded on love
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  Speaker 3: and self-sacrifice. The kingdom of God transcends all borders. and
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  Speaker 3: its king invites all to partake in its blessings. Caesar
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  Speaker 3: Augustus was known for his ambition and pride. He built
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  Speaker 3: monuments to his own glory and inscribed his name on
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  Speaker 3: coins as Son of God. His rule was characterized by
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  Speaker 3: self-aggrandizement and the pursuit of personal power. Jesus, the true
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  Speaker 3: Son of God, stands in total opposition to Caesar's pride
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  Speaker 3: and self-serving nature. Born in the manger, living a life
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  Speaker 3: of humility, and dying a criminal's death, Jesus exemplified self-sacrifice.
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  Speaker 3: He washed his disciples' feet and gave his life for
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  Speaker 3: all humanity. The gospel of Christ does something extraordinary that
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  Speaker 3: no earthly kingdom can achieve. It creates a people unified
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  Speaker 3: not by nationality, race, creed, culture, or socioeconomic status, but
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  Speaker 3: by a shared love for Christ. The gospel invites all people,
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  Speaker 3: rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, to
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  Speaker 3: come to Jesus. To come to Jesus. It tears down
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  Speaker 3: the walls that divide us, offering a common ground in
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  Speaker 3: the person and work of Christ. In Christ, we find
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  Speaker 3: a new identity that transcends all earthly distinctions. We are
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  Speaker 3: children of God, citizens of a heavenly kingdom. Our loyalty
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  Speaker 3: to Christ binds us together in a community that reflects
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  Speaker 3: the love and grace of our King. As we celebrate Christmas,
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  Speaker 3: let us reflect on these profound contrasts. While the kingdom
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  Speaker 3: of Caesar Augustus was characterized by power, pride, and self-service,
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  Speaker 3: the kingdom of God stands as a beacon of love, humility,
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  Speaker 3: and self-sacrifice. May we, as followers of Christ, imitate our
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  Speaker 3: humble King. Let us serve one another in love, recognizing
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  Speaker 3: that true greatness in God's kingdom is found in being
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  Speaker 3: a servant of all. And finally, as we look to
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  Speaker 3: the manger, may we see the hope of a better kingdom,
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  Speaker 3: a kingdom not of this world, but one that is coming.
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  Speaker 3: May our hearts be filled with joy this Christmas, as
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  Speaker 3: we reflect on the true King and His kingdom, may
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  Speaker 3: our lives be marked by the humility, love, and unity
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  Speaker 3: that characterize the kingdom of God. Thanks for listening to
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  Speaker 3: today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Pastor Jack Graham
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  Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. Download the Pray.com app and make prayer
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  Speaker 3: a priority in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast,
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  Speaker 3: share it with someone you love. By sharing this podcast,
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  Speaker 3: you can make a difference in someone's life. And if
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  Speaker 3: you want more resources on how to tap into God's
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  Speaker 3: power for successful Christian living, be sure to visit jackgraham.org.
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  Speaker 3: God bless you.