GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME. Gal 4:4
Paul amazes us when he stated, ‘In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. (Galatians 4:4) God always moves within time. The opening verse in the bible tells us, ‘In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth’ 6,000 years ago. In John 1:1, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God the Word was God. In the Galatian account, the Father commissioned his Son, the Lord Jesus to leave His heavenly home, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit, being born of the virgin Mary, It was a mighty moment in human history.
In Genesis 49:10, Moses spoke of the moment when ‘The sceptre shall not part from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh (the Prince of Peace) comes. God’s Spirit anticipated that gripping hour of Shiloh’s arrival. So should we.
God’s word accurately foresees coming events. Daniel 9 informs us, that ’ Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity ( the atoning work of Christ on the cross ), to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and the prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.’ It was accurate timing for the Hebrew people, their city Jerusalem, and the Lord’s reconciling work: and especially for His coming from glory to ransom His own.
Malachi 3:1 foretold how ’The Lord would send His messenger, (John the Baptist ) who would prepare the way before his Lord. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple.’ 400 years elapsed before this prophecy was fulfilled.
Our eternal God clearly foresees the future, for He is all-seeing and all-wise. We rejoice knowing that in the fullness of time, His royal coming drew near,
Our Lord approached the sufferings of the cross: Satan had entered into Judas, one of the twelve, who promised the high priests, seeking opportunity to betray Him in the absence of the multitude: Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed ‘(Luke 22:7). Then the disciples prepared a room for this memorable Passover celebration. ‘And when the hour was come, HE sat down and the twelve disciples with HIM. (v14) Our Lord had anticipated this moment during the years of preparation. This was His fullness of time. While they would celebrate every detail of the Passover, it would be the mosaic of His substitutionary death. Of course, our Lord would be excited with racing pulse, and stirring emotions, for the eternal drama as sin-bearer would soon be realised.
Our Lord began His marvellous intercessory prayer as He cried, ‘Lifting His eyes to heaven, saying, ‘The hour is come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You.’ (John 17:1) The rejection, heartless interrogation, whipping, face-bashing, scourging, mocking, scorning, and ridicule would soon be launched. It would be Christ’s greatest hour; for he would bear our sins in His own body on the tree.’
The Spitfire fighter planes saved England during WW11- their record triumph. Nelson Mandela freed from prison liberated his nation -his utmost feat. Jonathan Edwards won the Olympic triple jump in Sydney Olympics- truly his maximum conquest. Still, Calvary surpassed all- for it was Christ’s supreme hour.
‘In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, foreshadowed in the Old Testament, where ’Isaiah states, ‘From the time that was, I (Christ) was there. Now the Lord God (the Father) and His Spirit have sent Me. The united Trinity devised this amazing venture for our Lord to come to earth. In His coming, His titles shone through, ’Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. I am the Lord your God (Isaiah 48:17). Unmistakeably, Christ is visualised: He alone redeemed us with His precious blood; His spotless life earned the title of the Holy One; while as deity, He is the Lord our God. He alone has no challenger.
God purposefully sent His beloved Son into the world, ’Not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) Such a high plan demanded that the Lord, sent from heaven, would surrender His perfect life to the executioners at Calvary, where He was made sin for us.’ His coming brought salvation to the tens of millions, who were martyred in the twentieth century; and the millions of believers in the underground Chinese church. That’s why He came: and accomplished our eternal salvation in His coming. Bless Him for that.
The Father’s supreme will directed this most important mission, ’I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.’ (John 6:37) The Lord Jesus cheerfully surrendered to the Father’s will to bring light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. The Lord Jesus taught us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbour as ourselves. Our will may be a battleground, until we yield to HIM. Who controls you?
The Father showed His strong love in sending the Lord Jesus to us, as John records, ’In this the love of God is manifested towards us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (1 John 4;9)
Christ’s coming brought eternal life to us. WE are lifeless without HIM. In verse 10, we read,‘ He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ The Father provided His Son as the lamb, a true appeasement for our sins.
Christ had no hidden agenda, for he came to be our Saviour. John affirmed, ‘We have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son as Saviour of the world. (v14)
Governments send ambassadors to represent them abroad: never other countries. Christ came for rebel sinners. During the Sydney Hobart Classic boat race, ‘Skandia’ was upturned in the stormy mountainous seas and howling wind. Six perished before the Royal Navy helicopter rescued the survivors, hauling each into the helicopter. However, the Son of God came for the supreme role of sacrificing Himself on the cross, to be our Rescuer. Worship Him - and adore HIM.