“Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Ester 4:14
The timing of God in the history of men is not only a most remarkable intervention on His part, but one which reveals His wisdom, power, and glory. This timing concerns often very humble manifestations of His glory, those events which occur seemingly just beyond the sight of me, especially those who are proud and blind. Such was the case of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Who knew it was about to occur? Very few, and those who did know it, would have never guessed that it would have come to pass in such a manner as it did, for there was no fanfare, no parade, nothing that would attract the attention, or disdain of the world, only a very humble beginning. And yet, from before the foundation of the world, the moment of Jesus’ birth, set in motion a series of events in and by the life of Christ, that would not only change the world, eventually, turning the ancient world upside down, but would reveal to all men that Jesus Christ had come to save, to forgive, to cleanse from sin and deliver from death, an eternal separation from God in His goodness and holiness. To Mary Jesus’ mother, there would be given a word from Gabriel, God’s angel, that would bring together all of the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning His coming, His ministry, and His saving grace. Gabriel’s message from the throne of the Father was this: “…you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33) Though Mary was moved greatly by what Gabriel told her, she did not realize fully what these words meant. This Child would be unlike any other in that by His Life, salvation would be brought to the entire world, specifically for those who would believe in Him. His work of salvation by the cross, this sword that would enter Mary’s heart one day as she would see Jesus on the cross, would be complete and perfect in the sight of the Father, so that by His shed blood sins could be washed away, and man be justified in the sight of God by faith. God’s timing was perfect in history. He brought all things together for the quiet birth of Christ, the quiet years in Nazareth where Jesus was brought up, and then that quiet moment at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God coming upon Him. From that moment, the certainty of the calling of God, the blessed revelation of His glory in Christ, would enable Jesus to proclaim the eternal truth of God’s salvation for man, proving by His life and works that the time had come for mankind to awaken out of darkness. When the cross had been endured, and overcome, and the Son of God rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, again the timing was perfect. For later, after a short span of time, while Jesus’ disciples were gathered together in Jerusalem to wait for the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise of the Spirit, His baptism, and the receiving of His power, all would come together in heart and mind for the birth of Christ’s church, His living body of believers on earth. In that day, not only would the victorious Christ of heaven be WITH the disciples by the Spirit but now would be IN them by the Spirit. The time had come for Christ to dwell in the heart of every believer, knowing the reality of the new birth, and the power of His indestructible life and love.
As was the case of Ester so long ago, so we too are born for such a time as this.
Dear Father, Fulfill Your perfect will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.