“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.” –Galatians 4:4-5
There are few passages in Scripture as loaded as this one. “But when the fullness of time had come”…think about everything that went before that fullness of time. Consider all of the meticulous things that just had to happen in order for that day to take place.
What Could Have…
First consider all that had to take place for the Virgin Mary to exist…for Jesus to be “born of a woman”. In order for a little girl named Mary to have been born to Anna generation after generation of men and women had to conceive. If one guy falls off his oxen and doesn’t meet his future wife at a well then the whole thing is shattered. If one lady had a headache on that very special night then we don’t have the Virgin Mary.
Secondly, consider all that had to take place for there to even be a Jewish people during the time of Jesus. They were almost wiped out in Egypt. Nearly destroyed by Assyria and Babylon. Left for dead in Persia and almost exterminated by the wiles of Haman. The promise to Abraham was on the brink of extinction several times in history. And yet when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…
Thirdly, consider all that had to take place for Jesus to accomplish His work. There were several things that could have distracted him from his march to Jerusalem. He could have fallen during His temptation in the wilderness. He could have been crowned as King in John 6 and found himself executed much sooner. Could have…could have…could have…could have…
And you solid theologians are saying to yourself, “no he couldn’t have”. It was determined before the foundation of the world that Christ Jesus would in fact be the Savior of humanity and would be executed on a Roman Cross. The very day that this was to take place was foreordained. Nothing could have stopped this from happening.
Face Like Flint
Yes the Lord would not be thwarted. Just as Jesus’ face was set like flint towards Jerusalem so also the Father’s face was set like flint to seeing His Son provide the necessary redemption.
it occurs to me that the story doesn’t conclude at the cross or even at the empty tomb. God is still moving towards the grand climax of the New Jerusalem. And just as the Savior’s face was set towards the earthly Jerusalem so also the entire Godhead is determined and dedicated—face set like flint—to seeing the New Jerusalem.
So meditate today on all that it took for Jesus Christ to be born of a woman. And rest in the fact that this same God is equally dedicated to placing all of His church into the New Jerusalem.
