Nevertheless, for all his fame and influence, Augustus would prove to have less an of impact on the lives of others throughout history than a man born in relative obscurity in the backwaters of the empire during his reign. That man, an itinerant Jewish rabbi, would die on a cross, accused of threatening the Roman state by claiming to be a king. That man was, of course, Jesus. Augustus himself would unwittingly play a role in the life of Jesus, by making a decision--that "a census should be taken of the entire Roman world" (Luke 2:1)--which would lead to Jesus' being born in the town of Bethlehem, fulfilling a prophecy made centuries before. Never could Augustus have imagined that one day his name would be less remembered than the name of one of his subjects. The reason is that Augustus, despite the worldly power he possessed, is still dead, while Jesus still lives, in heaven above and in the hearts of men and women. Moreover, the earthly glory that Augustus enjoyed vanished with his death, but Jesus' glory remains forever. Praise God for the difference!
Imsge of statue of Augustus from wikipedia.org