But when the set time had fully come,
Summary: Our concept of time is something we often take for granted. Most of the time this is a good thing, but there are times when our assumptions become obstacles to understanding.
In our last meditation, “The Diamond and the Light,” we looked at verses four and five as a whole. Now, let’s go back and look at some of the “gems” contained in this diamond.
The first gem is Paul’s opening phrase, “But when the set time had fully come.”
He is speaking about Jesus, of course. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son…” Jesus showed up at a certain point in history, but why was that point significant?
A “set time” suggests a lot of things.
Imagine God setting an alarm clock for a “set time.” He adjusts the clock to go off at the midpoint of history. Then he winds the clock, moves the alarm switch from “OFF” to “ON,” and sets it back on his nightstand.
One of the things that makes it difficult for us to comprehend God’s ways is that we are looking at him through the lens of Creation. For example, a fish in a fish tank “sees” the world outside the tank, but the view from inside the tank is different. The view from inside is distorted by the water and the reflections of the tank walls. In addition, the fish’s eyes are made for fish, they are not made for seeing the way we see.
Our eyes see differently. We can focus on what is in front of us. We can examine things closely, but we miss the holistic view of the fish who sees front and back, up and down, effectively all around, all at once.
Our view of time is one moment at a time. Depending on our focus, a moment can seem short or very long. While we can control our focus to a certain extent, we cannot control the greater workings of time, the passage of seasons, and the succession of years. Centuries go by, and people occasionally live to orbit the sun one hundred times or more, but that is the limit. We do not live beyond that time frame.
God does.
God existed before the creation of the world. He also existed two thousand years ago when he became a man. And he exists now. At some point in the future, the earth will cease to exist (2 Peter 3:7-10). When that time comes, God will still exist.
Is God’s view of time confined to a “moment-to-moment” view like ours? Scripture suggests God’s view is quite different. Psalm 90 includes this passage:
“A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4)
Imagine that! Now imagine God setting his alarm for early morning when the Light of Truth dawned on the world two thousand years ago.
Application: God’s ways are not like our ways. (Job 37:5)
Food for Thought: How did God choose the time for Jesus to be born on the earth?
I have read that there are three factors that directly point to the timing of the birth of Christ as being perfect timing:
The Roman Empire made it possible for the rapid spread of the gospel by “physically connecting” the world.
The Greek culture and “common language” prepared the world to understand the message of Christ.
The Jewish religion, which was already scattered throughout the world, became the fertile soil on which Christ planted the seeds of his message. There was a “body” in place for Christ to breath life into.
There are other important factors as well:
The Jewish nation had failed in observance of the Law. The Law was intended by God to bring them closer to Him as individuals and a nation. At that point the Law was doing the opposite. The Jewish nation, and even other nations, were looking for the promised Messiah.
The world was spiritually hungry. Not only the Jewish nation, but throughout the Roman Empire as well. It was becoming more and more evident that the Roman Gods were failing to appease the spiritual thirst of man.
All of that, to me, is one way of stating that the field was ripe. Just like in our own individual lives, God is patient, and reveals His redemptive Will to us when we are ready to receive it. That is one aspect of His grace that I am both grateful for and astonished by. It would be better if we could seek His Will simply because we believe His Will is good, but unfortunately, more often that not, mankind must come to the end of itself before it recognizes the perfect Will of God, and turns to it.
Your question made me think of this verse:
Matthew 14:14 When he [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
I know that verse is speaking about Jesus here on Earth, but I also believe this is the same compassion God had for mankind, and still has for mankind. The crowd was there to meet Jesus, they had gathered specifically to seek Him. God sent Jesus at a time that the hearts of mankind were ready to receive redemption.
Chris,
Thank you for taking the time this morning to write out your thoughts on this topic. Your analysis is quite interesting!
I especially like your conclusion: “The field was ripe.” At the end of the day, that is probably what God was waiting for.
How did God choose the time for Jesus to be born on the earth?
Mark 1:15, “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Galatians 4:4-5, But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
It was the time of fulfilling all Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah, as well as those detailing the ministry, rejection, crucification and resurrection of the Son of God as the result of choices made by humankind.
The following conditions, events, choices by men fulfilled the number of OT prophesies shown. These were by choice, fulfilled by men. and are evidence of the foreknowledge of God.
The Pre-Existence of the Messiah, 6
The Messiah Would be God Incarnate, 13
The Messiah Would be the Son of God, 7
The Time of the Messiah’s Coming, Era, Time, & Date, 3
The Genealogy of the Messiah (Seed, Race, Nation, Tribe, & Family, 30
The Birth & Childhood of the Messiah, 16
The Forerunner of the Messiah, 5
The Attributes of the Messiah, 46
Events During the Messiah’s Ministry, 16
The Messiah Would Perform Miracles, 7
The Messiah Would Come to do God’s Will, 26
The Messiah Would Come for All People, 12
The Messiah Would Come to Provide Salvation, 31
The Messiah Would be Betrayed, 7
The Messiah Would be Abandoned, 3
The Messiah Would be Despised, 6
The Messiah Would be Judged, 5
The Messiah Would be Rejected, 21
The Messiah Would Suffer Greatly, 12
The Crucifixion of the Messiah, 32
The Resurrection & Victory of the Messiah, 31
Thanks Ron!
It sounds like you are saying the “how” involved meeting a lot of pre-conditions that God wanted to see met before his Son arrived.
Good comments all. If the question were why instead of how on the timing, it might be easier to answer. If the question were what instead of how, it might be easier to answer. But the how I think is ultimately left to God alone. I think history and His word give us the what and the why. The how is much more difficult. All we can say for sure is that it was the right time chosen before the foundation of the earth.
Romans 11: 33 – 36: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and i knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?” j
35“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?” k
36For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Rich ,
Good point on the “why/how” usage. I could ask how you knew to bring that up or I could ask why you brought it up, but the answers wouldn’t be the same. 🙂
😊
How did God choose the time for Jesus to be born on the earth?
He predetermined the time earlier according to His will.
Thanks T!
Simple, yet very true. 🙂