If I Knew Then, What I Know Now – “IIK-TWIKN”

Galatians 4:4 When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

1. God’s version of the “right time” is different than ours.

 Roman occupation and domination.

 A corrupt religious system.

 Taxation without representation.

2. They mis-contextualized Messianic prophecies.

 His origin from Bethlehem, Egypt, or Nazareth.

 His role as a deliverer of whom and from what.

 Mary’s story resembled the Greek and Roman gods.

3. I wonder if Mary ever had IIK-TWIKN moments?

 Mary’s initial response was beautifully innocent. Luke 1:38

 Mary would risk losing the love of her life. Matt. 1:18

 Mary traveled 90 miles to pay taxes in Bethlehem. Luke 2:4

 Mary was told that Jesus would break her heart. Luke 2:35

 Mary’s home was divided over Jesus’ claims. John 7:3

 Mary could have felt disrespected by Jesus. Matt.12:46

 Mary lived as a Social second class citizen. John 8:41

 Mary was an eyewitness to her son’s murder. John 19:26

 Mary was present on the day of Pentecost. Acts 1:14

 Mary made the transition successfully.

2 Cor 5:16 We have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ

merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

4. There is a foundation of faith for our IIK-TWIKN moments.

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. 16 For through him, God created everything. He made the things we can see and the

things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through - him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

18 Jesus is also the head of the church, which is his body…19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.

20…He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.

21 This includes you who were once far away from God… 22 God has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.