Treasure Hunt

Merry Christmas dear reader! I hope you have had a wonderful day, surrounded by love.

I have a soccer team sized family, so my Christmas preparations began months ago. Ideas were tossed around, and once I had settled on what I thought were the right gifts for each person, the treasure hunt began.

When considering a gift for someone, context matters. Why do they want this gift? What goal or persona or fantasy does it represent to them?

I’ll give you a personal example. There is a book that I really enjoyed reading. “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Brief summary – pen pals Juliet and Dawsey meet and fall madly in love within a post World War 2 British island setting. The book was made into a movie and there is a lovely scene near the end of the film where Dawsey lays on a blanket, reading the book to Juliet that initially drew them together. “Tales from Shakespeare,” by Charles and Mary Lamb, with illustrations by Arthur Rackham. It’s a real book, and I admit to immediately wanting it.

Why did I want this book? I had a fantasy of myself and my husband spending a random summer’s day lazing about on a blanket, my head tucked in the crook of his arm, while he reads the book to me. Goal – romance. It appealed to my inner writer.

A special someone who knows me quite well was aware of my desire, and went on a treasure hunt to fulfill my wish. This morning, I peeled back the wrapping paper on my gift to reveal that 1909 green covered gem with the gold lettering and I immediately began to cry.

All I could choke out was, “You did not… you did not… thank you so much.” Followed by more crying.

Two thousand Christmases ago, there was a man who went on a much different kind of treasure hunt. His name was Caesar Augustus, and he wanted gold and the power that went with it. His real name was Octavian and Julius Caesar was his great uncle and adoptive father. Less than a year after his adoption, Julius Caesar was murdered. Octavian fought his way up the ladder to absolute power, defeating Marc Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt at the Battle of Actium. Octavian renamed himself Caesar Augustus. Augustus means, “Exalted, sacred.” Rome went from being a republic to an empire – ruled by an Emperor.

To maintain his empire, Caesar Augustus would need literal treasure. Caesar Augustus would flex his hard won power. Roman citizens were expected to head back to where they originally came from, in order to be taxed. This was a huge travel inconvenience, combined with a significant financial burden. A potential family reunion when they arrived might or might not soften the blow of the journey.

Caesar Augustus set about a chain of events that would lead to the holy family’s arrival in Bethlehem just in time for the Savior of the world to be born, exactly where it was foretold in Micah 5:2 that his birth would be.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”

Paraphrasing – ” Hey Bethlehem, you’re a super Podunk town, but you will give rise to the Ruler of Israel, the Savior who is everlasting.”

Back to Caesar Augustus…

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” Luke 2:1, King James Version ( KJV)

“And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” Luke 2: 3-4, KJV.

Joseph leaves Nazareth with Mary who’s nine months pregnant, heads to his hometown of Bethlehem to be taxed.

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2: 6-7 KJV

Caesar Augustus was on a treasure hunt. He wanted to be viewed as powerful, his goal was to protect his kingdom, to remain “Exalted.” He would miss the real treasure.

We must be careful when desiring something, not to miss the real treasure.

I received a rare and valuable book this Christmas. The real treasure was the sacrificial love of my son, the gift giver.

Caesar Augustus received the sacrificial love of the Son of God. The Savior of the world, The King of Kings, destined to lay down his life for His kingdom, one who will be forever Exalted – in the form of a tiny Roman citizen wrapped in rags, lying in a manger in Bethlehem.

If you have not called upon the name of Jesus Christ yet as your Savior – what are you waiting for? Accept the real treasure – His love for YOU.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13.

Merry Christmas, dear reader. I hope you are surrounded by the Love of the Savior.