Paul stated that Jesus came to this earth when conditions were right. “But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” (Gal. 4:4. Like everything else God does, the coming of his Son was well planned. The preparations were complete, the conditions appropriate and the time was ripe. This was not only a good time, but the best time for Jesus to come to this earth. Consider the following circumstances, which all converged at the birth of Christ:
1. The Greeks had promulgated their language throughout the civilized world. Planted by the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th Century B.C., the koine Greek language became the common method of communication among the trades throughout the empire. Since the New Testament was written in this language, it was readily understandable by virtually everyone. Such prevalence of a single language was practically unheard of at any other period in history, so it could be no coincidence that the gospel was planted during such conditions. Along with a common language there was a lessening of cultural barriers, which made conditions right for spreading the gospel.
2. The Romans built the most extensive and expedient system of roads ever known. Constructed throughout the empire during a time of great expansion, these roads ranged from small, local roads to broad, long-distance highways built to connect major cities and military bases. They were used to transport military troops as well as civilians and they made possible the extensive commerce for which the empire was famous. But these roads also served to facilitate the spread of the gospel in the first century. Similar in concept to the interstate highway system initiated in our own country in the 1960’s, the Roman system of roads allowed the gospel message to be spread throughout the world
3. By the time of Jesus, the devout Jewish people were earnestly looking for the promised Messiah. While Roman rule was providing for communication throughout the world, it’s domination over the Jews was also producing an unparalleled longing for the Messiah of whom their prophet spoke. Thus, when Jesus came on the scene, he was literally expected by the Jewish people, although they would soon find their peculiar interpretations challenged.
4. The numerous false gods of pagan cultural had created a spiritual void, and a deep yearning for spiritual reality. The gospel message answered this call perfectly. As the falsity of the Greek myths, with their many and bizarre gods, was steadily exposed, growing numbers of people turned their longing eyes toward the true God. When the simple message of Jesus Christ was preached, it’s stark contrast with the fanciful theories of paganism attracted thoughtful attention, and vast numbers of converts.
5. The many old testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and the church finally converged in the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus would announce, “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished,” (Mt. 5:17-18). The protracted alienation between Jew and Gentile was becoming unsustainable, and unnecessary. The Mosaic law had accomplished it’s purpose, it had brought God’s people to the gospel, (Rom. 3). The “middle wall of partition” was finally ready to be broken down.
God does nothing by mirror accident or Caprice. The coming of Jesus was no exception. Conditions were carefully cultivated and monitored by a loving Father, who knew just exactly the right time to send his son. And when that time arrived, God sent forth his son, who capably and completely executed his mission.
The convergence of all of these ideal conditions at the birth of Christ is one of the strong evidences for the existence of God and the veracity of his word. Accounting for all of these factors in some other way stretched credulity. But to the serious Bible student who has come to trust in and expect the power of God, these things are no surprise. They show us that God is living and active in the affairs of humanity, and that he truly loves mankind.
-by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
