In the Fullness of Time

 Advent is the celebration of the Incarnation of our Savior, Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary in a manger, in Bethlehem.  We know the story well.  It is a story that has been portrayed in 10's of thousands of manger scenes, in movies, Christmas cards, as well as books and sermons.  I love the story as it unfolds in Old Testament prophecy:

Isaiah 7:14
 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

And as it unfolds in real-time:

 Luke 1:30-31

 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 

What fascinates me about the story of Jesus' birth is the thoughts (musings) of how it all came about in Heaven.  We know that God's plan for redemption occurred from the beginning of creation:

Ephesians 1:3-4
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him...  

It's fascinating to know that God has the wisdom of redemption from eternity's past to eternity's future.  This makes us realize that the coming of Jesus, sent by the Father, by the angel to Mary, was not a random choice of time, but one that was precise, intentional, and determined long before it occurred.  It is Paul writing to the Galatian Christians who reminds us:

Galatians 4:4-5
 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 

 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 

God's purpose and Jesus' coming (the incarnation) is described as happening "in the fullness of time".

Let's pause today and muse a bit about God's timing.  God is never late in his time, he is never early.  He is also faithful in his promises and his purposes are always on time.  

Why did God wait until then to send his Son?  From the creation God made it known he was going to do something to redeem us as humans, fallen by Sin.  Through Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets he kept reminding his people that he was going to send "Immanuel" - one who would be God with us.  Yet the time dragged on, to the point that some Isrealites gave up believing the Messiah would ever come. Some hung in faith, but they expected a Messiah who would come militarily to overthrow the shackles of Roman occupation and establish Israel as a superior nation ruled by God.  None of those were to happen.

Paul reminds us that the "fullness of time" is the same as "the date set by the Father" in the previous verse:  Galatians 4:2,  "...but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father."  Not only does it mean the Father alone chose when to do it, what to do, but also why to do it.  We read the why in the verses surrounding the "fullness of time":

Galatians 4:4-7
 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.   And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”   So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 

The fullness of time is the Father's perogative - but it is not a selfish one, but a redemptive choice.  Jesus came into the world as the Father had determined, to bring about redemption, and release all those who believe in him from their Sin that we might become an heir of the Father's Kingdom.  The fullness of time is purposeful, intentional, and most of all, relational.  Our Abba, Father, wants us to know we were made on purpose.