Why did He choose to come when He did?

It must have been a dark time…the era Jesus was born into. Close to 500 years passed from what was written in the book of Malachi and the beginning of the New Testament. The people of Israel are no longer sovereign and haven’t been for hundreds of years. Sure, the temple has been rebuilt, but it is much smaller and the religion of Israel had become deeply politicized. The people of Israel had, on one side, a “brood of vipers” governing their moral lives and on the other side they were being passed around from being the captives of one nation to another. Their identity was lost and hope seemed far, far away. Why then, of all times, did God choose to come to Earth?

In reading through the Old Testament lately I have seen God moving in mighty ways in the lives of ordinary men. These men, although flawed, were about resting in God’s righteousness over their own. Men like Gideon, David, Abraham, and Joseph are just a few examples. These men were men of “unclean lips” and yet God used them. They were men, like any other man, but they sought out God with all their heart. When they wavered, or when they rested in their own righteousness, that’s when bad things happened. Unfortunately, it almost seemed like, for these men and the people of the time, staying righteous was an uphill battle. You see, these men all failed God at various times in their lives. They started out well, but as time went on, they made more errors. Now these men were holy men, men of God, but it seems that the trend was that man was…hopelessly lost. Indeed that was the case. God knew that what we needed was a savior. As humans we just didn’t have it in us to be able to stay on the straight and narrow. They/we needed a savior. I can almost feel the hopelessness as I think back on that. The men, the leaders whom the Israelites looked up to…kept failing them and failing God. It makes sense then that the cry of the nation was for God to bring about their deliverer. Rich Mullins captured their cry so well:

“Joseph took his wife and her child, and they went to Africa
To escape the rage of a deadly king
There along the banks of the Nile, Jesus listened to the song
That the captive children used to sing
They were singin'

My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
He will never break His promise - He has written it upon the sky
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by”

There was an air of hopelessness, but yet there in the midst of it all was a glimmer of hope in their cry to God. He heard their cries and brought forth their…OUR savior. Jesus stepped off His throne to be born, to live, to die. Our deliverer is coming…our deliverer CAME and He is still with us. We don’t have to rely on ourselves, because we now have God in us. The Holy Spirit now dwells in us. We don’t have to worry about the uphill battle because Jesus is our Emmanuel our God with us.

So, to answer the question why God chose to come down to us, to be born when He did…well…I don’t know. What I do know is that is fits in EXACTLY to His divine plan. God’s timing is perfect. Although we don’t have the answers now, it will all make sense in the end. What we do know is that Jesus was born…born to a virgin, He was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn, shepherds kept watch, and multitudes of angels praised God saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." This birth literally split the calendar in two and this child grew up, was/is God walking amongst us, was betrayed, put on trial, tortured, brutally crucified, died and then three days later He rose from the dead victorious. He did this for you and for me. So although I don’t know why God chose to come when He did, I sure am thankful that He did come when He did. I have life now and do not have to fear eternal death. This is God’s gift to you as well…if you’ll receive it. Merry Christmas to all and God Bless!

I close with this:

O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angels' voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born
O night divine,
O night divine,
O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need; to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!