Luke 1:65-80 - At Just the Right Time

Luke 1:65, 80 (ESV)

[65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,

 

[80] And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

That is an interesting contrast. Luke 1:57-80 tells the story of the birth of John the Baptist. When his mother, Elizabeth insisted that he be called John, not Zechariah after his father, they asked Zechariah what he should be named. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John” (Lk 1:63). Immediately he was able to speak again after having been made mute by the angel in the temple. The result of these events was verse 65, “Fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about.” The news spread throughout “the hill country of Judea.”

 

In contrast, John lived in the wilderness, away from people until the day he was to begin his public ministry. The news spread about him, but he remained private until the right time. What was he doing in the wilderness? We aren’t told anything about that time. Many speculate that he spent time with the Essenes, a religious group that had separated themselves from society in order to stay pure. Whether that is true or not, John remained separated from the world until the right time.

 

That is a concept specifically related to the Christmas Story. John began his ministry at just the right time. Romans 5:6 tells us that Jesus died at just the right time. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” He came “when the fullness of time had come,” in other words, at just the right time.

God had made a covenant with his people. They had been waiting hundreds of years for its fulfillment. Now, at just the right time John began his ministry to introduce the Savior to the world. When Jesus left this world, he promised that he would come back. It has been over two thousand years since that promise. But he is not late. Just as he came at just the right time, so he will come again at just the right time. We are an impatient people. We want to see the promise fulfilled now, especially when life gets hard. But time is irrelevant to God. 2 Peter 3:8-9 remind us,

[8] But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9]The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God is patient toward us. Perhaps we should be patient with him. He is coming again. His promise will be fulfilled just as the promise of his first coming was fulfilled. We are to live in the expectation that it could be today. God’s desire is that more would come to repentance before he returns. Let us pray and live toward that end.