A Gospel showdown

Bishop Scott Bullock
The Nativity of Our Lord
December 25, 2025

That very familiar Christmas Gospel conceals a showdown underway when two great forces are coming together and one will be victorious. Although this story seems quaint, instead, it is a provocation to worldly power essentially saying worldly powers might seem all-powerful, but there is a force unleashed at Christmas that will humble them all. To see the irony, compare two sentences from the Gospel. First, as the Gospel begins, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world to be enrolled.” 

And at the end of the Gospel, “The angel said to them, do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you — you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Both verses speak of an announcement. The decree of Caesar Augustus, which would have been described by the word “evangelia” — the word that later Christians used for the proclamation of the Good News. The Gospel writer is saying the message of true power is not of the emperor but instead of the angel. The decree of Caesar Augustus is intended for the whole world, but since the decree demands a census, it would only be for the whole Roman world. On the other hand, the message of the angel intends an even larger audience — for all people. This means every human person.

Finally, the reference to Augustus Caesar, we can think about titles that are ascribed to emperors of Rome, that they were called God, and Savior, and Lord.

The Gospel writer, with a boldness that would have been considered presumptuous to the Romans, says, no. The true God, the true Savior and the true Lord is not Caesar Augustus but Jesus Christ who is “an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Essentially then, the Gospel is fighting words, essentially saying, “You think you’re important, Caesar Augustus? There’s another king who is more important, whose message is more vital. From the true God, the true Savior and the true Lord! And he is a little baby in a manger.”

The claim is bold. It confounds human logic regarding power and authority. While we could expect the emperor to be more powerful; in fact, the lasting power is with the baby. History has borne out that the claim of St. Luke. The Roman emperors are gone, while Jesus still reigns as God, as Lord and as Savior. And what a king we have!  

That last detail in the Gospel, “lying in a manger,” suggests a king like no other! A manger — a feedbox for farm animals. This King, this Lord, this Savior, this God comes as food. Astonishing! His mission is to feed us with his very life. His very eternal life. As the Gospel writer John says elsewhere, “whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

His life, his flesh, is a remedy for death and a means of restoring eternal life to all who partake of this food, the Eucharist. 

Many have claimed throughout history to have all power and all authority. The child of Bethlehem supplants them all. He alone is God, Lord, Savior and more. He is bread for eternal life!