Miracle of Timing

Time. If I were to stand here and be still and not say anything for one solid minute, many of you would think it felt like more than just one minute right? And if you were doing something you enjoyed with family or friends, you might say that minutes seem to pass faster than usual. Anyone relate to that statement?

It is, as it stands right now today, 26 days until Christmas. It is a measurement of time. To some of you those 26 days seem like…well, just days. To some others of you, those 26 days feel like maybe 10 days right? 26 days to think about, find, purchase, organize, wrap....those presents. Some of you are just coming to the realization that Christmas is in less than 1 month. OH…and there are family gatherings to plan meals too…cookies to bake. And all of those other things that seem to pop up right?

Timing....now timing isn’t time. It is essentially what we do with time. How we strategically use time. Or how things happen around us in time.

Timing is important isn’t it. Have you ever thought about timing? I’m sure many of you think about timing as it pertains to getting on the road in the morning and driving through rush hour. In Ohio we watch the weather in winter to time travel. Especially if there’s significant snow or ice on the way.

Those of you who garden are guiding by timing right? You don’t plant green beans in November or corn in February. And then when you plant correctly, you allow time to pass so that you harvest at just the right time. All a sense of timing.

We have watches and clocks and calendars to guide our timing.

Going swimming outdoors in January isn’t the right time.

We love our football…even when things don’t quite go our way. And we marvel at the timing necessary for a quarterback and receiver to connect successfully. The timing of a running back to pivot out of a tackle. The ability of a safety to read the movement of the ball in order to either block or intercept the pass. Timing.

When I was traveling some years back I was flying out of Philadelphia. I wasn’t familiar with the airport…or the amount of construction that was taking place on the day I was leaving. They had rerouted how you get to the gate I was trying to get to. Needless to say through all the construction, I was very much delayed…as were a bunch of other people who had been caught off guard. As I checked in and dropped off my bag, the person giving me my ticket informed me of the amount of time I had vs the amount of time it was going to take me to get to the correct gate…they didn’t match but she said she’d contact them and let them know that I was in the airport and rushing my way there. They held the plane 5 minutes past time for me and as I entered…you ever say something and then think to yourself…that was stupid. As I entered the plane I said...”did I make it?” The stewardess just looked at me and asked to quickly take my seat.

Timing.

So today we’re going to do a bit of learning…with one small application point that is very, very important. And in the weeks leading up to Christmas we’ll be looking at the miracles of the Christmas season.

Today’s passage is from the book of Galatians…that would be Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia…today would be modern day Turkey area.

Galatians 4:4-5

Galatians 4:4–5 (CSB)

4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters.

…when the time came to completion. Meaning - at just the right time.

Paul has an understanding of time when He writes this. Actually, I should say that Paul has an understanding of God when he writes this. Paul’s worldview begins and ends with God and His plan. So when Paul thinks about God…He knows that God is perfect in His ways. So he can easily write…when the time came…when the time was right…when the time came to completion…meaning when certain things were happening or had happened…God moved. When Jesus was born…it was at just the right time.

There are some old testament passages that seem to speak of the timing of Jesus the Messiah. Many view Daniel 9 as a major prophesy about the timing of Jesus’ birth and life.

Isaiah 9 speak not necessarily of a time but what will happen in an appointed time...”For unto us a child is born...” That’s one you seen on lots of Christmas cards right?

Micah 5 even talks about where…in time…this child will be born. Bethlehem.

What are the chances of these three things…just these three prophesies lining up to be true in one event in time? Looking back…we look at this and call it a miracle. Different authors writing at different times about one single event in a preordained place? To us a miracle…to God…just perfect timing. His timing.

So for learning sake…let’s dig in just a bit to some history around the birth of Jesus. Remember what Paul said…”at just the right time.”

What my hope is is that you can use this information for yourself…some of you will already know this stuff…but some of you might find it helpful for conversations you might be having with others.

1. A unifying language.

The ancient Mediterranean world had a unifying language. Greek was the universal language in the Roman Empire, and it was known in regions beyond (such as Persia). Latin was the primary language of the Western Roman Empire, and Aramaic was the first language of Jesus and His apostles, but Greek was known at least as a second language throughout the empire.

Over three hundred years before Christ, Alexander the Great had spread the language of the Greeks from Athens to Egypt to the border of India. By the time Jesus was born, Greek literature, science, and art were widely known, and one could speak Greek anywhere in the empire and be understood. The New Testament was first written in this international language of the day, and then almost immediately translated into other languages (such as Latin and Syriac/Aramaic).

2. A unifying law and government.

The Greco-Roman world had a unifying law and government. Roman law had unified people from modern-day Britain to Egypt under one civil code. For the most part, Roman law was just and fair for all people groups, and many people wanted to be Romans in order to benefit from their just laws.

The New Testament shows the Apostle Paul, who was both a Jew and a Roman citizen, often appealing to Roman law whenever he believed he was being treated unjustly (Acts 16:35-40). When Paul appealed to Caesar for a fair trial, it is Roman law that allowed him to be sent to Rome to stand trial before the Emperor. The story of Acts shows that Roman law was the vehicle providentially used by a sovereign God to get the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome.

3. A unifying system of trade.

The Roman Empire had a unifying system of transportation. The Appian Way — the same road, the same stones that Paul walked on along the way to prison are there overseas today…and can be walked on.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph took the coastal road from Israel to Egypt to escape Herod. Peter used Roman roads to get to Caesarea to speak to Cornelius in Acts 10. Paul and his companions used Roman roads to take the gospel across Asia Minor and Greece. Soon, Christians were traveling Roman-built roads across Gaul and Hispania and North Africa. God used the network of roads that were built by Rome for His glory.

At the time of the birth of Jesus, the Roman military had also banished piracy on the high seas. Paul and his pals could take ships from Antioch to Cyprus and Asia Minor and Greece on their missionary journeys without fear of being attacked by pirates. The only major fear was of storms at sea, like the one Paul faced in Acts 27:13-44.

4. The “Pax Romana.”

The ancient world at that time enjoyed the “Pax Romana.” From the time of Caesar Augustus to Marcus Aurelius (27 B.C. to A.D. 180), the Mediterranean world enjoyed peace under Roman rule. Yes, there were a few outbreaks of local wars, such as the Jewish revolt in A.D. 66-73 and later the Bar Kokhba revolt of A.D. 133-135, but for the most part, the Roman Empire was free from invasions or major civil upheavals.

So the early Christian faith was born in a time of peace, and had time to expand across the empire without fear of invading armies. (Of course, the periodic persecutions, both local and empire-wide, were problems from time to time.)

****So here we have roads, shipping lanes (all safe to travel)…never before, military that traveled and sailed protecting travelers, they had citizen’s rights, language was common…You see where this is going right?

5. Philosophical and religious exhaustion.

The pagan world at the time of Jesus’ birth was philosophically and religiously exhausted. As I read Greek and Roman stories about their gods and heroes such as “The Iliad” and “The Aeneid”, I am struck by the absolute insensitivity of the gods. They really don’t care about the human race. The gods do not love you. They have no covenants with mankind. They do not sacrifice themselves out of love to rescue or redeem sinful, fallen humans.

The gods cannot transform your life and offer no forgiveness or assurance of everlasting life. There is no promise of heaven for the faithful and certainly no resurrection.

But honestly, there was nothing in the Roman pantheon or in the philosophies of Plato or Aristotle that could give hope to either slave or centurion. The faith revealed in Jesus Christ, however, was like rain falling on cracked and parched earth. Here was a God who entered the human race to go on a rescue mission and actually secure the salvation of all who would repent and believe. Unlike pagan believers, followers of Christ could actually find redemption and freedom from their old debauched lives and enter into a new transformed life here and now. Paganism, the religions of that time had nothing to offer in comparison.

In the time of Jesus…there was a real search for truth…it was needed.

6. The Jewish world longed for a Messiah.

The Jewish world was eagerly expecting a Messiah, but was also deeply divided and legalistic. The Jewish world certainly expected a Messiah, and although the idea of a suffering Servant-Messiah is clearly in the Old Testament (Isaiah 52:13- 53:12), it seems that most simply wanted a conquering king who would drive out the hated Romans.

There were many sects in Israel at the time, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Essenes. All believed they knew what was best for everyone. While the Pharisees probably had a pure motive in erecting their own traditions to prevent people from breaking the Law of Moses, they succeeding only in reducing living by faith to a man-made legalistic code that missed the whole point of loving God and loving one’s neighbor.

The Jewish world had simply exchanged their former worship of stone idols for man-made traditions that became new idols. In their apostasy, they were ready for a Messiah who really could set them free.

7. The Roman world needed a census.

Ordering the census may not have been the most important thing Caesar Augustus did that day, but it set in motion a series of events that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the City of David, where the Messiah would be born (Micah 5:2). Caesar did not know he was actually the tool of God, working on just another day of activities — but ultimately He was fulfilling ancient prophecy from God’s Word.

A Roman census was issued in 6 BC, and Herod died in 4 BC, so Jesus was born sometime between those two dates.

Now for any one of these things to just so happen around the time of Jesus birth might be unique…coincidental. But for all of these things to happen seem very …timely. Timely…all of this happening....and then Paul writes…looking back in history, and with the help of prophesy…Paul writes...”at just the right time, Jesus was born.”

The information about Jesus was super important. Information. That needed to travel…safely and efficiently…to get quickly to as many people as possible…people who spoke different languages…but who all knew basic greek. And why…because it is Good News. Good news about life....most of you know that the word Gospel means Good News.

The timing of Jesus coming into this world was just what God planned for.

Now, from our side of things we might call all of these coincidences…Jesus being born in relation to Old Prophesies…in the right time and at the right location etc. etc. We might call them miracles. But from God’s side of things. They are simply right. This is what He does. He works in our best interest in the best timing possible.

There are a bunch of passages that speak to God’s providing for us…in a timely manner…when it comes to planting and harvesting. Giving us signs in the heavens (stars - sun and moon) to help with the seasons and more like this.

There’s one verse though that speaks a bit more about the coming of Christ into this world. Paul, when writing to the church in Rome (Romans) said this, Romans 5:6

Romans 5:6 CSB

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

Other versions say…while we were still sinners…at the right time....Jesus died for us.

And not only did He die then…for us, but He still works in our lives to this day helping us and guiding us.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you know…like really know…that God’s timing in your life was perfect?

Like when someone said something and it helped you remember what you had forgotten about doing…at just the right time?

Or like when someone shows up at just the right time to help.

Or like when you receive something at just the right time whether that be help or cash or a text message?

Or like when you don’t know what to say or do…but you move forward anyway knowing that somehow it’s the right time to try and move forward knowing that God will provide the words and actions.

Or like when someone says something you’d never thought of at just the right time you needed to hear it...

If God is the God of time…then things like this just make sense don’t they?

What about when God begins to impress something on your heart…and you know the timing is right…and you know its right because you feel push back too.

Or when you are tempted to do something…to sin…to do or say or think....and out of nowhere there’s a diversion… Did you know that scriptures talks about this… 1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

That takes timing on His part!

But that also takes something on our part…first it takes us, as followers, a realization that His spirit is with us. Guiding us. Aware of us and our thoughts.

Next it takes us realizing He wants us to do better…and that He is willing to help us...

Next it takes us being willing to yield to what the spirit is calling us to do.

And Jesus knew that time is hard for us…this is a broken world that with the coming of His Kingdom has brought the beginning of recreation…but it is still, on this side of eternity, imperfect. That’s why Jesus says things like only focus on today…tomorrow will have enough worry on its own…and the days are evil…or like when paul says to make the most of every opportunity…(that’s an emphasis on time)…why? because the days are evil…another reference to time.

So why should we be willing to yeild to God’s spirit? Because in His perfect time He has not only provided us with Jesus…His birth, death, and resurrection....but He’s also provided us with Jesus spirit so that that at the right time we can become “more than conquerors” (remember that from a couple of weeks ago?) All of that so that we can begin to see New Life…a recreated life....a life reborn…so we can begin to see life as it was intended by our creator.

Timing....

At just the right time, Jesus was born for us. There’s a reason for the season. Its to remember God and what He’s given us. The love of His son.

Amen?

So…is this morning the right time for a decision on your part? The right time to get something prayed for? The right time to ask that specific question that’s been rolling around in your head? Maybe I said something that made you think about something else. I would love to know about it. I’ll be right here after the prayer and there will be people over here if you need prayer about something…general or specific…these are just helps if you need to react to God’s timing ok? We’ll be available.

Let’s pray.