Luke's concern with detail and precision as well as his ability to craft a fine story has made his account of Jesus' heritage, parentage and birth the all-time Christmas favorite. But for those not terribly familiar with all the political maneuverings and personality quirks of those who held positions of power and authority in this first-century setting, the significance of Luke's careful precision here at the opening of his third chapter may be lost on us.

The Emperor Tiberius was the stepson of Augustus Caesar and is the "Caesar" in question whenever that Roman designation is used throughout Jesus' ministry. Tiberius was very reluctantly accepted by the other Roman leaders and was designated the heir and a "Caesar" only when all hope of a true biological son of Augustus was abandoned. He…