"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
Galatians 4:4-5
Part 2
Yesterday: The Promise Kept
“But when the fulness of the time was come.”
When the time was just right, God fulfilled His promise.
“God sent forth his Son.”
Jesus came in the flesh. He is the “Seed of the woman,” the new “Prophet,” “Immanuel, God with us” that has been promised for centuries.
Today: God’s Purpose in this Miraculous Birth
“Made of a woman.”
It does not say that God’s Son was “made of a man and woman,” or that He was “made of a man,” by his seed. But God’s Word clearly says He was “made of a woman.” We have seen the promise that Jesus will be Virgin born (Isaiah 7:14). A Virgin Birth is not the natural way that babies are conceived and born.
“Made of a woman.”
Literally “made to be (born) of a woman”[1] (JFB). This shows that God intervened in the conception process. God Himself transcended time and space and “interfered” in His Son’s birth as a human. He caused Jesus to be conceived by His Holy Spirit, through the Virgin. This was a supernatural birth indeed.
Good News!! Jesus Christ has arrived! He has come to earth in human form to live “as a man with men.”
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
As Jesus, the only (“unique”) Son of God, was growing up, He was observed by His family and those in His village. He was unlike any other child as His grace and truth were noted by all. No one had ever lived such a life as Jesus did. He never sinned, and He lived a righteous life as was foretold by God’s Prophet (Jeremiah 23:5).
“Made under the law.”
Not only was Jesus “made by a woman” but also, He was “made under the law.” It was not just that He was born under the law as all Jews are, so He had to obey it. That is not the point here. By “His Father’s divine appointment, and His own free will,” Jesus was “made” “subject to the law.” He must keep it all, the ceremonial and the moral law of God. As His Father’s Representative to Mankind, He will keep the Law perfectly for us. No human has ever done this before or since. Man has broken every one of God’s laws, to be our substitute to pay for our sin, Jesus must observe and keep each of His Father’s Laws, no errors, no slipups, no sin. He could never use the excuse, “I’m only human,” for He was so much more.
Why would God the Father set such requirements for His Son? Come back tomorrow, and let’s look at the next verse. See you then.
Quote: “We obey God’s Law, not to be loved, but because we are loved in Christ”[2] (Bridges).
[1] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Galatians 4:4.
[2] Bridges quote from his book, Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love, p.54, Tyndale House, Jerry Bridges (2014). Downloaded: Wednesday, December 16, 2020. From: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/464699.