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"when the proper time came God sent His Son,
born of a human mother and born under the jurisdiction
of the Law, that He might redeem those who were under
the authority of the Law and lead us into becoming, by
adoption, true sons of God." Galations 4:4.
When Jesus was born three races were dominant in the world
- Romans, Greeks and Jews; soldiers, scholars and saints among
them. They contributed in the preparing of the way for His
coming.
The Romans brought peace and roads. The pax-Romano allowed
people to go about their business and the roads enabled them
to do that safely and expeditiously. Before then it was a
world of many nations in countries with a multiplicity of
languages, customs, religions and laws. The Roman conqueror
conquered them and in governing them compelled them to live
peaceably together.
Before the Romans came Palestine was so fenced in that nobody
and nothing could easily have escaped from it. They broke
down the walls that separated nations and territories so that
movement was possible from place to place and that made it
possible for Jesus to be seen and heard by some who would
tell about Him to others and for His disciples to take the
good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the wider world.
The Romans, then, prepared the world for His coming with their
peace and their roads.
The Greeks gave to the nations a common tongue. The Romans
and the Jews with their Latin and Hebrew used Greek as the
language of common usage and the other nations followed their
lead so that Christians were able to use the one language
in their teaching and preaching of the faith wherever they
went.
The Jews emphasized the place and purpose of religion. They
lived by their faith in God and in the expectation that He
would send to them the long awaited Messiah who would be their
saviour and deliverer from Roman bondage.
The promise of a Saviour came from the Jews.
When the time was right He came and His coming into the world
remains the most momentous event in human history. By Him
God came to live as a man among men. That thought in mind
Sir Oliver Lodge said:
"The greatest mystery of the Christian religion is
the recognition of the positive fact that God is in close
relationship with humanity, has entered into the strife and
turmoil, has taken our nature upon Him, and henceforth and
always is active and energising and suffering and helping,
sorrowing, rejoicing and inspiring."
The good news remains for in Jesus Christ God brings people
to Himself. Jesus changes the world by changing people in
it. It was to be said of His disciples when they provided
evidence of their commitment to Him, "we can see that
they have been with Jesus." No one ever made an approach
or response to Him that was not to their advantage. Jesus
always improves people. He converts them to make them children
of God. He turns them round and sets them on the way of life
pleasing to God, beneficial to themselves and useful in the
service of their fellowmen. He showed us what it meant to
travel His way by setting us an example in how we should live
for God and for people.
Christians are to be witnesses to His power in their lives
and they demonstrate that in how they represent Him to others,
Christ-likeness is to be the desire and aim of all who claim
to belong to Him.
The Christian faith has its words but its deeds are what
matter in a world always in need of divine intervention and
guidance.
When Jesus came He brought many changes. It is the task of
Christians to ensure that society is never in doubt about
what is the proper way for people to live before God and for
others. It demands selflessness; caring for and sharing with
others; combating the evils of society, intolerance, sectarianism
and the mistreatment of people.
The Christian dream is of a world in which God reigns; at
peace and with justice and mercy and a good life for everyone.
Our world bears little resemblance to that of the dream but
it is a much better one when Christians take their Christianity
seriously and live for Christ in it.
Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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