Why 2 thousand years ago? Think about it, the land of Israel was occupied by the Romans. A pagan nation ruled over Israel and the Jewish people were in a state of upheaval, and the priestly system was corrupt. If Jesus came as a Ruler, or as a King, as a warrior Messiah, to drive out the Romans, this would make sense. But Jesus came as Savior. He came, born to poor parents, became a teacher and healer, only to die on a Roman cross. Jesus came as Savior, to die for our sins.
In his role of Savior, was there a better time He could have come?
Why not before the flood?
Why not before the exile and destruction of Jerusalem (around 580 BC).
Why not 600 AD before Mohammad came on the scene?
Why not before, during, or after the dark ages?
What was special about that day and age when Jesus was born?
From our vantage point of being 2,000 years removed and we can look back into history, we can see all the historical and cultural factors in place for the very perfect time in all of history for Jesus to come. Our emphasis is on Galatians 4:4, but to place the passage in context we will read verse 3-5.
Galatians 4:3–5 (NKJV) 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
You have probably heard the phrase many times, "timing is everything". There is a great deal of truth in that statement.
The difference between a good joke and a bad one is a person’s sense of timing. An appropriate pause makes a joke, an inappropriate pause can kill the same joke.
Timing is essential when dealing with people. You don’t ask for a raise when business is not going well or when things are tense around the office. You don’t try to correct with someone who feels threatened by you. You don’t ask for a favor when someone is under a lot of stress or angry.
Timing is important in cooking. The juicy steak on the grill is raw meat if cooked for too little time and a clump of charcoal if it is cooked too long.
Timing is important in medicine. If you catch a problem early you will be able to treat it more effectively.
Your timing is important in taking medication. If you take your medicine as directed it will be helpful. If you skip doses, it loses its effectiveness. If you take extra doses it can be deadly.
Timing is important in finance. When you invest in a particular stock and when you sell the same stock will make the difference between whether you make money or lose it. Knowing when to borrow and when not to borrow is the key to financial independence.
Timing is important in your spiritual life as well. Jesus was very conscious of timing. He lived His life with an acute awareness of God’s timing for His life. The gospel of John records these words of Jesus: [1]
John 2:4 (NKJV) Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”
Jesus says this to His mother at the Wedding at Cana. Jesus says the following to His brothers who urged Jesus to show himself to the world (and they did not believe in Him at that point in time either).
John 7:6–8 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
Jesus avoids those who would have him killed.
John 8:20 (NKJV) These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. Even in the Old Testament,
God waits judgement until the timing is right. God was explaining to Abraham about the time for future generations of his family.
Genesis 15:16 (NKJV) But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
But Jesus’ hour did come. After the triumphal entry, during the preparation for the Passover just a few days before His crucifixion, Jesus announced:
John 12:23 (NKJV) But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
And of course we read about a time for everything in Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Today we read that the timing was right for God to send Jesus.
Galatians 4:3 (NKJV) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
The law had strangled the people. The time was right. We were under bondage – to the Law, to sin, to our own depravity. But God took action by sending Jesus. God had the perfect time in history all picked out to do so.
Galatians 4:4 (NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law
This was an intentional act by God – this part of the eternal plan. A plan that was made before the beginning of time, before the creation of the world. Jesus is proof that God acts in human history. God does not merely break into time, He is the very fabric of time.
This was a real turning point in history. So monumental that our calendar is set on this: B.C. for Before Christ, A.D for Anno Domini translated from Medieval Latin as “In the year of our Lord."
However today you will find a direct departure of acknowledging this simple fact of Jesus breaking into history. The world will do what it can to ignore, to dispute, and even to claim that the advent of Jesus never happened. B.C and A.D. are relabeled as B.C.E. and C.E. for Before Common Era and Common Era. This showing up on historical markers and school textbooks. Has been used overseas for decades.
But Christ coming was much more than a central part of recorded history. God intervened in history at just right time when the world was providentially ready for the birth of the Savior. The fact is:
The Time Was Right
We can look at back at that place in history from our vantage point of 2,000 years later.
1. It was the right time culturally.
Around 330 BC, the Greeks, under Alexander the Great conquered whole known world and ruled for a period of time. This brought Greek culture, philosophy, institutions, art, drama, literature, architecture, and thought. Greek became the unifying language and 2nd language for most of the known world – the language of commerce and science.
280 BC the OT was translated into GK – Septuagint or LXX (as it is referred to in shorthand). NT quotes of the OT are from the LXX. The Greek OT was in libraries around the known world. The Wise Men of Matthew 2 knew of Jewish laws and history most likely from the LXX in their library.
The Greek language broke down barriers of nationalism. People reading and accepting other cultures including Jewish cultures. The NT was mostly written in GK and was quickly circulated around the world. Clearly it was the “Greek Bible” for most 1st century Jews and Christians.
2. It was the right time politically
The Roman Empire succeeded the Greeks in rule of the known world and was in power at the time Christ was born. Pomey entered Jerusalem in 63 BC and Herod the Great was appointed to rule over Palestine in 37 BC.
a. Greek (koine) continued to be the language of the empire.
b. Pax Roma – Roman peace, no wars, free trade/travel
c. Transportation and communication systems grew. Roads were built all over the world “All roads lead to Rome” many roads are still in use today.
d. Cosmopolitan spirit/elimination of cultural barriers.
e. Christianity was viewed as just a sec of Judaism, and received protection a legal religion. (Paul in the book of Acts)
f. Advance judicial system (Paul appealed to Caesar, Acts 25).
All this enable the Gospel to be spread like no other time in history. Caesar Augustus ordered the census in Luke 2:1 fulfilling 800 year old prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2).
3. It was the right time spiritually.
For the Jews were ready for the one true God. Since the Exodus from Egypt into the promise land, the Jews had a problem of serving other Gods. Read Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings. Israel, the Northern Kingdom falls to the Assyrians in BC 722. These people are generally not heard from again. Some of them become the Samaritans, half breeds that are hated by the Jews in the NT. Against this back drop, Isaiah was wrote about the coming Messiah. Judah, the southern kingdom fall to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, in BC 586. The Jews begin their return from Babylon BC 536.
The Jews never had a problem serving other gods since their return from Babylon.
The last book written in the Old Testament was written by the last Prophet, Malachi, in BC 430. After that we do not hear of God speaking or prophets speaking for God for 400 years. During these 400 years of silence:
a. The Jews proved ability to maintain identity in difficult circumstances.
b. Their struggle with idolatry was over.
c. The TORA became central in Jewish life. Scribes (lawyers) came into being.
d. Oral tradition became the hedge around the law (39 rules to keep the Sabbath).
e. New doctrine emerges, Angles – Demons - Resurrection.
f. The development of the Synagogue as a social and religious gathering. The church started using the system of Synagogues as a model.
g. Revival of Messianic Hope. Disappearance of the office of Prophet.
h. The Sanhedrin, and sects such as the Pharisees and the Sadducees developed.
However the Jews went from falling off one side of the log to going over the other side. They tried to obeyed the Law to an extreme, from the 10 commandments to 613 do’s and don’ts. Instead of giving life, the Law strangled them. The Laws was ready to be replace or better yet fulfilled!
Matthew 5:17–18 (NKJV) “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. They were ready for freedom….to become sons.
Galatians 4:4–5 (NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
The Law strangled the people. No one could keep the Law. We are all law breakers. “For all have sinned . . .” But Jesus came when the time was right. He took the penalty of our sin on himself. Not Just for us, but the for whole world too.
1 John 2:2 (NKJV) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The world was ready to for a savior.
4. The Gentiles were ready too.
At the same time, the proliferation of empty religions among many people created a spiritual hunger for something genuine.
563-483 BC Buddha in India
551-478 BC Confucius in China
428 –322 BC Plato and Aristotle in Greece.
And the Roman and Greek gods were becoming myths.
Yet this Baby, who was born to poor parents, in Bethlehem so many years ago is the basis of our salvation today and has changed the world in so many ways. No other religion compares in impact.
Romans 5:6 (NKJV) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
As Jesus came at the perfect time, rest assured, when the perfect time comes, He shall return. We do not know the day nor the hour:
Matthew 24:36 (NKJV) “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
And we are told because we do not know the time, we are to be ready:
Matthew 24:44 (NKJV) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Jesus Himself tells us His coming is soon.
Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
More is written in the Bible about Jesus’ second coming than his first coming. Most of the prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah deals with His second coming, and not with His first.
God’s plan was to send Jesus at the just the right time. His return will be at the right time.
God plan for you is to accept His son. The right time to accept Jesus is now.
2 Corinthians 6:2b (NKJV) Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The right time to accept Christ is today
[1] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/63838/on-quotes-by-michael-mccartney?ref=TextIllustrationSerps
Note: The facts of history mentioned in this sermon was gathered from many different places, but mostly from similar sermons in SermonCentral.
