How the Census Is an Important Detail of the Nativity Story

"And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled." Luke 2:1

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

While it may seem like a small detail that isn't all that important, spiritual writers have seen in it great theological significance.

hen reading the various accounts of Jesus' brith, the census of Caesar Augustus may seem like an insignificant part of the story. For many, it appears to only serve as part of the historical context, situating Jesus' birth at a particular point in time.

Yet, many spiritual writers have found this small detail to have a depth of meaning.

Bethlehem

First of all, the decree sent out by Caesar Augustus forces the Holy Family to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem, which is a highly symbolic city.

The prophet Micah in the Old Testament spoke about a ruler coming from this place:

But you, O Bethlehem Eph′rathah,
    who are little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
    from ancient days. (Micah 5:2)

It is also the city of David, further cementing Jesus' role as the "New David."

Even the name itself, translated as "house of bread," foreshadows the reality of Jesus' being the "bread of life."

Counted as one of us

Pope John Paul II points out in his apostolic exhortation, Redemptoris Custos, how the census also sets up Jesus' role as savior of the world:

Journeying to Bethlehem for the census in obedience to the orders of legitimate authority, Joseph fulfilled for the child the significant task of officially inserting the name "Jesus, son of Joseph of Nazareth" (cf. Jn 1:45) in the registry of the Roman Empire. This registration clearly shows that Jesus belongs to the human race as a man among men, a citizen of this world, subject to laws and civil institutions, but also "savior of the world." 

He further quotes a beautiful passage from Origen that further illustrates this reality:

By being registered with everyone, he could sanctify everyone; inscribed with the whole world in the census, he offered to the world communion with himself, and after presenting himself he wrote all the people of the world in the book of the living, so that as many as believed in him could then be written in heaven with the saints of God, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever, Amen.

The Nativity story is one that is rich in meaning, with every detail being carefully placed so as to set the stage for the Incarnation. While the census may appear to be a small part of the story, it was in fact an important one that is deep in spiritual significance.

Pictured: Jan Luyken, Joseph and Mary taking the census (1703),