False Advertising and True
In Prienne, on the coast of northern Turkey, they
discovered an inscription that has been dated 9 BC. It proclaims "good
news" and gives thanks to the gods for giving Augustus to the world.
Here's what it says:
"Whereas the Providence which has ordered the whole of our life,
showing concern and zeal, has ordained the most perfect consummation for
human life by giving to it Augustus, by filling him with virtue for
doing the work of a benefactor among men, and by sending in him, as it
were, a saviour for us and those who come after us, to make war to
cease, to create order everywhere and whereas the birthday of the God
[Augustus] was the beginning for the world of the glad tidings that have
come to men through him.Paulus Fabius Maximus, the proconsul of the
province has devised a way of honouring Augustus."
Then into the town came a Jewish tentmaker who would have immediately
noticed all the advertising. The name above every other name would have
been the current Roman emperor's. Famous actors, authors and
chariot-drivers would all have had their mention but the name at which
every knee would bow would be Augustus. The advertising would have
spoken of Augustus as "lord" and "saviour" and bringer of "peace" and
all who would want to "get ahead" and have the good-will of Rome would
call on that name in one way or another. No wonder the proconsul was
anxious to celebrate the birth of the emperor.
When he was ready the Jewish tentmaker would gather people around him
in some market area and proclaim that the name above every name was not
Augustus but Jesus Christ. He would say that the saviour and
peace-bringer was no Roman emperor but the incarnate God who had come in
and as Jesus of Nazareth. He would say that the truly "good news" was
about God in Christ and not about Roman history or power. He would say
that sovereignty came not by making a name for oneself but by
self-emptying in holy obedience to the Father.
And as surely as the Prienne inscription was no mere invitation, so
the tentmaker would say, the true "good news" is no mere invitation.
This wasn't an offer to "let Jesus come into your heart!" This was a
proclamation that Jesus is Lord whether we like it or not.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.