But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” – Galatians 4:4-6
After humanity had rebelled against God and fallen into sin, God had compassion upon His creation and promised that He would send a Messiah to redeem them. The promise of a Messiah who would come into the world to rescue mankind was renewed down through the ages.
Many of the great men of God – Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Mica – would speak of this promise. However, they would only see God’s promise from a distance.
The text says that when the time was right, “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.” Why was it the right time in Palestine for the Messiah’s advent?
Jesus came during a time when many of the known world was under Roman rule. Consequently, the language around the Mediterranean world was unified.
More than 300 years prior to Jesus’ birth, Alexander the Great had conquered the known world. His kingdom extended from Athens to the border of India. Therefore, by the time of Jesus’ birth, Greek was spoken throughout the region of the Mediterranean.
Latin, the language of Rome, was spoken throughout the Roman empire. Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic. However, Greek was the common language, which was spoken throughout the empire. The New Testament was written in Greek.
The Greco-Roman world had established unifying laws throughout the region. Roman law was acknowledged to be just and fair. During his ministry, St. Paul often reverted to his Roman citizenship when he felt that he was being mistreated by the authorities.
The Roman road network made transportation and trade quite convenient. They had connected many cities in the Mediterranean area through their massive road construction. St. Paul and his friends were able to travel safely by road to reach new converts and establish new ministries.
The sea was considerably safe because the Romans’ military banished piracy throughout the area. For this reason, St. Paul and his friends traveled throughout the Mediterranean, by sea, without fear of piracy at sea.
God used these means of transportation to facilitate the proclamation of the gospel. He used them to His glory.
Under Roman colonization, the world was at peace. Notwithstanding some local skirmishes, the Roman military brought peace and stability to the region. The empire was free from invasions or civil upheavals.
The conditions of the Mediterranean area were quite appropriate for God to send His promised redeemer into the world. It was right in that all the conditions necessary for the proclamation of the gospel were in place.
Consequently, the people of Palestine, during the first century, A.D., got to see and hear what God’s loyal prophets and great men were only able to see at a distance. The son of God, the Messiah, came to Earth to pay the price for our bad performance.
He came, lived among us, endured our pain, suffering, disappointments, and taught us God’s way. Then, he suffered persecution. He was tried as a criminal, then sentenced to death on a cursed tree. He died and came back from the grave, so that death would have no power over us. Amen.
• Reverend Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Dr can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone 426-9084; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.
