In the Fullness of Time - A Light Shone in the Darkness

Introduction

The past few years we have seen a dark world continuing to grow darker with struggles and pain. There has been political unrest, wars, violence, disease, financial changes, but yet when Jesus came into this world as a baby the world was dealing with the same kind of issues. He came into this world at the exact right moment. Not too early or too late. He came as a light in the midst of our darkness.

Fullness of Time

The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Galatia these words.

Galatians 4:3–5 NKJV

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

The word fullness has the sense of completeness. Like the cup if full.

He came at the right moment.

Back in Luke’s Gospel we see the world He was born into.

Luke 2:1–2 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

Caesar Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome and the people of Israel (now called Palestine, but the Romans) was under their thumb.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

Born Gaius Octavius in September of 63 BC, the Roman senate gave him the name “Augustus” in 27 BC to honor his defeat and annexation of Egypt. Formerly one of three co-rulers, Augustus gained sole control of the empire and reigned from 27 BC to AD 14. Although harsh and unrelenting, he was a master administrator who restored order to the empire after two decades of civil war. He was responsible for ushering in Rome’s Golden Age—an era known as Pax Romana or Pax Augusta (meaning “Roman Peace” or “Augustus’ Peace”), which lasted for roughly 250 years.

As we have been going through Daniel we have seen Israel in Exile in Babylon, but Daniel was praying for the end of the 70 years of exile. Israel would go back to the land and rebuild the temple and the city of Jerusalem (Ezra and Nehemiah). Yet, as we have also seen in Daniel that Greece would rise up (Alexander the Great) and there would be more conflict. Greece itself would fall to the Romans as the power of Rome went over the known world as far as modern day England, north Africa, and the Middle East.

Augustus had only recently become the first Emperor of Rome after a lengthy struggle against Marc Antony and Cleopatra following the assassination of Julius Caesar on the ides of March 44 BC.

Not only is Rome in charge of the area. The person who is “ruling” over Palestine is a man by the name of Herod.

Luke 1:5 NKJV

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Matthew 2:1–4 NKJV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

Herod the Great ruled Palestine on behalf of Rome. The first 24 years of his reign were successful: He established peace throughout the land, made the temple more magnificent than that of Solomon, provided jobs for the working class, and completed a number of large building projects. His final nine years as king were less glorious and led to the NT depiction of him as a tyrant. These years were characterized by political intrigue, executions, familial disputes, war, and clashes with Rome. Herod died dishonorably, and his kingdom was divided among his sons

Luke 3:1 NKJV

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Herod was not Jewish, but his family had converted to Judaism as a political move. His family was from Edom (modern day Jordan)— line goes back to Esau. He had married into the descendents of the Maccabeean “kings” to get his political foot in the door.

Pain and Suffering

Luke 13:1–5 NKJV

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”