Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
What does it mean, “when the fulness of the time was come”? Out of all the days of all history, God chose a particular one to birth his only begotten Son into the world. The Bible says, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son…” (Luke 2:6-7) Everything about the past prophecy and the present circumstances were exactly in alignment. It was just the right time for Jesus to come into the world. We read about in the Bible and hear it at least once every Christmas. There was a taxing that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. The angels declared it and the shepherds came to see what had happened. Eventually, the star led the wisemen there and Joseph takes his family to Egypt. After the death of Herod, they return home and the ministry of Jesus begins as a twelve year old boy, astonishing the educated with his wisdom and understanding. It was just the right time for him to be here.
It was also the right time for it was necessary that Jesus be “lifted up”. (John 12:32-33) He had to die as a curse upon a tree (Galatians 3:13) and it was during this time in history that the Romans crucified their worst criminals on a cross of wood. It was just the right time for Jesus to die for the sins of man by the right method: crucifixion. None of this took place by happenstance. There were no accidents that Barabbas was chosen to go free, or that the Roman governor presided over the decision of death, or that the place for the cross was in the same location that Abraham brought his son Isaac to sacrifice according to the command of God all those many years before. (Genesis 22:1-14) It was just the right time that everything fell into place. It was all orchestrated by a sovereign God who has all things under his control.
It was the “fulness of the time” that everything would be fulfilled. There was nothing left undone that needed to be done. Jesus declared that “it is finished” (John 19:30) and it was. The debt was paid, the way was made, and the only hope of man arose the third day, triumphant over the curse, the penalty, and the power of sin. All of this took place according to the foreknowledge of God and according to the plan that was formulated by God before the foundation of the world. It was just the right time.
The question to ask is, what have you done or are you going to do with what Jesus has done for you? He fulfilled his part completely. Please, trust him today as your Savior and if you have, you should be rejoicing “with joy unspeakable and full of glory”. (1 Peter 1:8)
In Christ's Service,
Bro. Adrian Moore
2 Cor. 4:5