Chapter 2
The wind from a butterfly’s wings can cause a windstorm.
Something so small, so seemingly insignificant, can lead to the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise to humankind. There’s a concept called the “Butterfly Effect”, an idea that became popular in the 1960s. It’s often phrased like this:
“A butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas.”
It’s not meant to be taken literally. It’s a metaphor from chaos theory, describing how tiny, unnoticed changes in one part of the world can eventually lead to massive, world-changing consequences elsewhere.
A real-life example? Believe it or not — a sandwich order helped start World War I.
In 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria became the spark that set off a global conflict. But what most people don’t know is this:
The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, had actually failed in his first attempt.
Discouraged and hungry, he wandered the streets of Sarajevo — and stopped to grab a sandwich.
At the same time, the Archduke’s driver made a wrong turn — and ended up on the exact street where Princip was eating.
The car stalled right in front of him. Princip looked up, saw his target, and took the shot.
That wrong turn — and maybe even the sandwich stop — led to the death of millions, the collapse of empires, and shaped the entire 20th century: World War II, the Cold War, and beyond.
In Luke 2, we see something similar. Far away from Israel, in Rome, the emperor made a decree — a census to register the people. It probably seemed routine. Bureaucratic. Just another political move.
But that one order sent a man named Joseph and his pregnant fiancée Mary on a journey to Bethlehem.
That trip — at exactly the right time — fulfilled centuries-old prophecy and led to the birth of Jesus.
The secular world might call that the butterfly effect. A “random” decision made by a ruler who had no idea he was playing a part in God’s story.
But we know better. Our faith says: “Nothing is small to God.” What seems like chaos to us is often just design we haven’t realized yet.
Who would’ve thought to thank Caesar for taxing the world?
Yet that decree put everything in motion — leading to the hope, peace, and joy we now have through Jesus. So, when life feels unfair, heavy, or confusing — remember: Even the small, frustrating, painful moments may be part of something bigger, better, and beautiful — even if you can’t see it right now.
That grief you’re walking through may be the very path that leads someone else to the cross later.
Rest in your faith.
God had the wheel back then — with Caesar.
And that same God still has the wheel right now.
Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem
1 In those days Caesar Augustus [A title meaning “deserving deep respect, majestic, god like qualities.”] issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. [Mary had children after Jesus.] She wrapped him in cloths [swaddling cloth were snugly wrapped strips of cloth. A reminder also of his burial cloth.] and placed him in a manger, [A place of feeding. Reminding us of his words to at the last supper, break the bread and telling us to eat.] because there was no guest room available for them. [Jesus was born in what many believe was essentially a cave to hold animals. It was the most modest birth and, in that way, he can connect to all mankind, from the lowest to the greatest.]
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [December would have been too cold to live in the fields. December is a traditional time of remembrance and celebration of Jesus birth, not the actual day and month. As Believers in Christ, every day is December 25 and every day is Easter Sunday!] 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” [A very specific place for them to look. Swaddling cloths might be common, but in a manger was very unusual. So, looking for the Messiah, they directed their search in the lest likely place…. The caves, not the throne.]
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. [How appropriate that the shepherds that cared for the Temple’s lambs, that would soon be offered to God, were the first to behold the Last Lamb to be offered to God for all of us.]
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” [Leviticus 12:2-3]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign [literally: “a target that people shoot at”] that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Return to Nazareth
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Visit to Jerusalem
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. [It was customary in those days that boy would begin to learn his father’s trade at about 12 years old. Jesus fulfilled this by instructing the teachers in the temple.]
More significant about this visit was around the same time that Israel was stripped of their right to impose capital punishment by Rome. This sent the Jews into a tail-spin for the prophesy in Genesis 49:10 said, “The scepter (ruling authority) will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come, and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Little did the Jews know, in their sorrow of this loss of power, the 12 year Messiah was in their midst and this prophesy was fulfilled.]
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
