REFLECTIONS ON BETHLEHEM

In Galatians 4:4, the Bible says "In the fulness of time, God sent forth His Son . . .."

I remember learning in seminary from Lewis Foster that there are two Greek words for time: Chairos and Chronos. Chairos means a moment of opportunity. Chronos means a set point on a calendar or watch. He said the word used here is Chronos. In other words, God had set a time in place, and He sent Jesus when the time was right. The circumstances were also right, but they were not a happenstance opportune moment, but were aligned with the time set by the Sovereign One from the foundation of the world.

And so, Adam was created, Noah survived the Flood, Abraham was called out, Jacob had twelve sons, Moses led them back from Egypt and gave them the Law, David and Solomon built a great kingdom and Temple, Assyria destroyed ten of the tribes and turned back, Babylon conquered all of Assyria plus took the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity, Persia conquered Babylon, and Cyrus sent the captives back to rebuild the Temple and repopulate the land, Greece Hellenized the entire Western world and gave them a common language to propagate the Gospel, Rome conquered Greece and ushered in the Pax Romana, the Maccabeans revolted but never shook free, Herod rebuilt the Temple and claimed to be the king. And then, and only then, was it the fulness of time.

Jesus, You chose to come to earth. Such a planet of unworthy idolators! Why us?

Jesus, You chose to come as a Jew. None of them were, or are, saints, You know. Why them?

Jesus, You chose to come to Bethlehem. Not a prominent town by any stretch. Why there?

Jesus, You chose to come in the fulness of time. Stars and planets aligned to provide a sign; Greeks, then Romans, united the world; the Temple, the priesthood, the Forerunner John, the census, the slaughter, the king, the empire, the Law, the language, it all aligned in the perfect time and place.

I don't know why You have chosen this planet, these people, this land, at this time. But in the fulness of my own time, I have also been born and was introduced to You. We were meant for each other, You and me, but I'll never know why.

Such a small place. Such an unimpressive entrance.

But then again, that's how You entered me, too. Thank You that You came at just the right time.