This Christmas - in the fullness of time

In the Fullness of Time

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son
Galatians 4:4-6

God has a time for everything. Consider a row of pots to be filled with water. When one pot is full, it is put aside and a new one is brought forth. When the time is ripe for God to intervene, the old is pushed aside to allow God’s carefully prepared plan to unfold. When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son. Before the fullness of time, there was a long period of preparation. This period went all the way back to Adam and Eve, when God promised that the seed of Eve would trample the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15).

This seed was Abraham’s seed, promised by God. This seed was also David’s son, from the tribe of Judah. The prophets spoke of Him. He’s both the glorious king who establishes the throne of David and the suffering servant of the Lord who would take our sins and sicknesses and die in our place. He would be born in Bethlehem. He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. He would be the Son of Man who would inherit an eternal kingdom where God cares for His people.

One prophet after another presents different aspects of the person, role and arrival of the Messiah. Isaiah says He would be born of a virgin. Hosea says He would flee to Egypt. Psalm 110 says He would be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Once the prophetic picture of the Old Testament is complete, the prophets are silent. For several hundred years there was a period of social, cultural and political preparation, completed at the time when Augustus was Caesar, Quirinius was governor over Syria, and Herod was king in Judea. Finally the long period of preparation was over, and God sent His Son. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.


PRAYER
Heavenly Father, when You want to do something exceptional, You carefully prepare. Thank You that You do everything at the right time, and when You give, You give the absolute best. In Jesus’ name. Amen.