Answers with Pastor Harry Goodwin

You ask Elim experts the questions. This month, it’s Pastor Harry Goodwin of The Well Church in Wakefield

Why did Jesus have to come when he did?

The better question might be: why did Jesus choose to come when he did, rather than why he had to? There’s something beautiful about framing it as a divine choice that preserves the intentionality of his incarnation.

You’ll often hear the argument that Jesus came during the Pax Romana because it was ideal timing – Roman roads for travel, Greek as a common language, and relative peace for the message to spread. Whilst this makes sense historically, it falls short. If impact or reach were the main priority, Jesus could have chosen our digital age, where a single video can reach billions. Yet he didn’t.

Paul writes, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son.” This ‘fullness’ points not to perfect conditions but to perfect timing within God’s sovereign plan. We may never know why first-century Judaea was the moment He chose, but we can trust it was good because He is good. What matters most isn’t the ‘why then?’ but the truth that He came – and through that coming, billions have been saved.

What does “wise as serpents, harmless as doves” mean?

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus tells His disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep amongst wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.” This captures the tension of Christian witness in a hostile world. The instruction isn’t to choose between shrewdness and innocence, but to embody both.

To be “wise as serpents” means to be alert, discerning, and strategic – not naive. Serpents in the ancient world symbolised craftiness, but Jesus reclaims this image for godly purposes. We’re to be thoughtful in how we engage culture, how we speak truth, and how we navigate systems that are often bent against righteousness. To be “harmless as doves” means to remain pure in motive, gentle in action, and untainted by malice or a thirst for revenge. A dove is a symbol of peace, sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit. We’re not called to win arguments, but to bear witness to Christ.

This verse reminds us that faithfulness to Jesus in a broken world requires a kind of holy cunning, not to manipulate, but to navigate wisely, always paired with a heart that seeks peace and reflects the character of Christ.

Do angels still interact with people today?

Yes, Hebrews 1:14 tells us that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation,” which indicates that their role continues beyond the New Testament era. And in Hebrews 13:2, we’re told to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, “some have entertained angels without knowing it.” These verses affirm that angelic presence and ministry remain active, even if unseen.

Throughout church history and into modern times, there are credible accounts of angelic encounters, moments of divine protection, mysterious guidance, or unexplainable rescue. While we must be cautious not to chase the supernatural for its own sake or let experience override Scripture, we shouldn’t dismiss the reality that God still commands His angels concerning us.

That said, angels don’t replace the work of the Holy Spirit or the centrality of Christ. Angels are messengers and servants. Their interactions today, as in Scripture, ultimately point us back to God’s care, His mission, and His glory.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.