This post is based on the Christmas message I gave on the Sunday before Christmas (12/22/2019). The manuscript is posted here in its entirety (with a few edits).
The Timing and Necessity of Jesus’ Birth
Galatians 4:4-5; Luke 2:1-7
Introduction
There are many events that surround the birth of Christ, and many are familiar to us: For instance, the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke are often read around Christmas. These events are not random. God was orchestrating everything according to His purpose and His timing. His full control over world events is just one example of His sovereignty.
As we study the text before us, Galatians 4:4-5, I want to focus on two things: God’s perfect timing and the necessity of the birth of Jesus. In other words, why did Jesus come at that time and why did Jesus take on flesh?
The Fullness of the Time
Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” When we studied Mark 1, we came across verse 15, which says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” The “fullness of the time” indicates God’s perfect timing for Christ’s arrival.
The timing is perfect for several reasons, and I want to highlight two. The time was right culturally and politically. Long before Jesus came—in fact, 300 years before Jesus came—Alexander the Great conquered much of the east, from Greece and Macedonia to Asia Minor and all the way to India (but never conquering India).
As the conqueror, Alexander brought with him the influence of Greek culture and language. Though Alexander never conquered the west, Greek culture and language still spread westward through commerce. Some 300 years later, in the time of Jesus’ birth, Romans were in control. The Romans spoke Latin, but the entire empire still spoke Greek. Why is this important? This is important because as the gospel spread from Israel outward, missionaries only needed to know Greek. Just think about the apostle Paul and his extensive missionary journeys: He didn’t have to learn a new language or dialect; he only needed to speak Greek.
Second, the time was right politically. The time of Jesus’ birth was a time of peace, security, safety, and prosperity in the Roman Empire. This is known as Pax Romana, or Roman Peace. In 49 BC, Julius Caesar defied the Roman Senate and crossed the Rubicon River. This is where we get the saying “Crossing the Rubicon.” Civil war ensued, and Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. From the civil war, three leaders emerged. This is known as the Second Triumvirate, comprising of Lepidus, Antony, and Octavian, who was Julius Caesar’s nephew. We know that it is very difficult for those who have power to share power. In fact, those who have power want more power.
So, the three leaders of the Triumvirate started fighting. Lepidus and Antony were both defeated by Octavian. Octavian received the holy title of Augustus in 27 BC; thus, he is known as Caesar Augustus. His policies contributed much to Pax Romana. That was 27 BC, and this prosperous age of Pax Romana would last until around 180 AD.
Why is this important? Well, because during this time, the Romans built many things, one of which is a system of roads. We hear the phrase “all roads lead to Rome” as a nod to the Roman system of roads. The roads made it easy for traveling, which aided in the spreading of the gospel. Additionally, in this time of peace, safety, and security, traveling was fairly safe throughout the empire, and the Roman Empire was large. Geographically, it stretched as far north as England, from Spain to Italy, Greece, Asia Minor, Israel, south to Egypt, and westward again to North Africa. This was a huge empire, and the Pax Romana made it easy and safe for travel.
This is the “fullness of the time.” Alexander the Great had no idea what he was doing would prepare way for Jesus’ birth and the subsequent spread of the gospel. Caesar Augustus had no idea that his policies and the Pax Romana would facilitate the spread of the gospel. But God knew, and God orchestrated world events so that “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.”
I’m not suggesting that God’s purpose would have been thwarted if Jesus was born during a time of civil war in a world without a common language. God could have accomplished His will through turmoil, but in God’s wisdom, He chose and ordered events for this time.
This is the sovereignty of God at work. God was not sitting around waiting for man to get things right or for man to get things in order. No, God was actively using people to accomplish His will, His purpose, and His timing. And many of these people are not even people who worshipped God. He is sovereign over all people.
The Birth of Jesus
I want you go to Luke 2:1-7 for a moment. Luke 2:1-2 says, “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. [2] This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.”
This was a census taken for taxation purposes.[1] Here, we see once again another example of God at work throughout history. Taxation was common, but registrations like this was uncommon. This census required everyone to return to their ancestral home. Obviously, this kind of registration would be uncommon because it is quite inconvenient.
Luke 2:4-5 continues, “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, [5] in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.”
They lived in Nazareth, which is in Galilee. We know from our current studies in Mark that Galilee is north, but Bethlehem is in Judea, which is south. This is quite a journey to make, especially for someone who is pregnant. But this is a journey that had to happen. Why? Because Micah 5:2 prophesied that Jesus would come from Bethlehem. By the way, Micah prophesied about 700 years before Jesus was born. How can that happen? I once heard a saying that prophesy is pre-written history. God is sovereign, and His Word will be accomplished.
What amazing timing. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy. God used both believers and nonbelievers to accomplish His will. Did Caesar Augustus know that he was fulfilling prophecy by issuing this census? No, I very much doubt it. What’s even more amazing is that Mary is with child, and we know that she is near her due date. Luke 2:6-7 continues, “While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” God timed it perfectly, not just in major world events, but even in details such as the exact time Mary would give birth. It all comes together at Jesus’ birth—events that happened hundreds of years prior to the most recent events in the Christmas story.
The Necessity of the Incarnation
We saw the birth of Jesus in verse 7, but why is it necessary for Jesus to take on flesh? Why did God have to come and take on flesh? In theology, this is called “incarnation.” Here’s why Jesus came and took on flesh.
Let’s go back to Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” Being born of a woman isn’t just a reference to the virgin birth, although that is important. Being born of a woman indicates that Jesus was born like any other human; He is truly Man and truly God. Jesus wasn’t created at birth. [2]
Galatians 4:4 also says that Jesus was “born under the Law.” Here’s a dilemma: If man fell into sin, then man had to be punished. The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, how can we right the wrong? Man fell, so man had to right the wrong. Can man do it? No man can right the wrong because every man is a sinner (Romans 3:23). We are incapable of paying the debt for sin. But God can pay the debt. Here’s the dilemma: God can’t die as God, and man has to pay the debt. Here’s the solution: God took on flesh. Jesus took on flesh, lived a perfectly obedient life, and died to pay for the penalty of our sins.
He was “born under the Law.” Just like every human, Jesus was obligated to fully obey God’s Law given in the Old Testament. However, He obeyed it perfectly, something no man can do. He satisfied the law’s requirement by His perfect obedience, and He satisfied the law’s requirement by taking the punishment of sin. [3]
Galatians 4:5 continues, “So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” He came, took on flesh, lived in perfect obedience to the law, and died a death we deserve. He did this to redeem the elect. Listen to Romans 8:3-4, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, [4] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Conclusion
This is one of many amazing stories of Christmas, and I pray that I can cover other texts in the future. But I don’t want us to simply walk away amazed. In our studies in Mark, we find many people were astonished or amazed at Jesus, [4] but that’s not enough. We don’t stop at intrigue. If you are a professing Christian, and your life bears fruit of your salvation, you should respond by thanking God for sending His Son and praising Him. If you haven’t turned to Christ, you need to repent and believe in the gospel. Jesus said in Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The Puritans were a godly, devout people. I want to close with a short snippet of a Puritan’s prayer that I find so fitting: “Herein is wonder of wonders: He came below to raise me above, was born like me that I might become like Him.” [5]
Notes:
[1] James Montgomery Boice, The King has Come: The Real Message of Christmas (London: Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 2008), 41.
[2] He is co-equal with God (Phil. 2:5-11).
[3] This is what is known as the active and passive obedience of Christ. There is a double demand in the law. We must live perfectly according to God’s law, and if we break God’s law, we are punished for it. Jesus lived in perfect obedience, and He paid the penalty for sins.
[4] See, for example, Mark 1:27; 7:37
[5] Arthur Bennett, editor. “Gift of Gifts,” in The Valley of Vision (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2002 [first published in 1975]), 28