Why at that time?

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law.” Galatians 4:4 (NIV)

Why was Jesus born when He was? Why not in our enlightened age with rapid transportation, instant communication and all the comforts of modern living? Why did the Apostle Paul tell us that the time had fully come? What was special about that time?

I think that God had prepared the world for the coming of His son. He had first prepared a people, then a language, and finally a government.

God’s people, the Jews, were often running after other gods and forsaking the God of Abraham. To prepare the people, God sent His people into exile and while they were in exile they learned the futility of worshipping other gods. They developed their synagogues as places of teaching the Word of God. When His people returned to the land they were ready to receive their Messiah. They needed a Saviour who would cleanse their hearts as the exile had cleansed their land.

God also prepared a language. After the Israelites had returned to their land the Greeks came into power under Alexander the Great. Alexander’s kingdom grew so rapidly that by the time he was thirty three years old he had conquered the entire known world. During that time he spread Greek culture and the Greek language. The Jews did not accept the culture but they embraced the language. It was into this language that the Scripture was translated that made it easy for everyone to understand.

Then God allowed the Romans to conquer the world and they brought into effect an efficient government that made it safe to travel anywhere in the world. They built roads and protected travelers.

God had a prepared people, a prepared language and a prepared government and when all these things were in place He sent His Son to be born in Bethlehem.

Today we have a prepared people, the church. God has called them out of the world to be part of His kingdom. He has a prepared language. Most of the world understands English and communication is quick and easy. However, this is not a time of peace. The world is ready for such a government and when it comes it will be the government of the antichrist. Then God will send His Son into the world a second time to gather His people home to Himself. Just as the First Advent was such a glorious event so will the Second Advent. We must be ready; we must be part of the prepared people.