A Date With History

In the ancient world, years were often reckoned according to the reign of the current leader. The current year might be given as “The 7th year of the reign of Octavian” or “The 8th year of Augustus”. For the past 2000 years, we have derived our calendar year from the birthof Jesus. Our readings today prophesy about this event that would so change the understanding of God that his title and even the calendar would have to change as a result. Despite attempts to remove Jesus from our culture and our calendar, his birth remains single most important event in history, the date on which God became man.