Interesting. It makes sense that Jewish practice would become more developed just prior to the coming of the Christ. So the timing of 1st and 2nd Maccabees would be perfect. Have you ever wondered why Jesus came at that precise moment in history? Because the Jews were as ripe as they would ever be to be plucked. It's the only thing that makes sense. Hence, the latest texts and the new Testament would reflect the height of Jewish practice as preliminary to and types of Christian liturgy. The conflicts between the Sadducees and the Pharisees on the topic of the state of the dead, and the practices in Maccabees would reflect the most refined perspective they would have on life after death, atonement, and intercession. Before they would receive the fullness of Truth.
Another reason for Jesus to come them is the Roman Empire.
Although it was not geographically the biggest empire in human history, within its direct borders and satellite sphere of influence (recall that Celts and Germans converted to Christianity spontaneously, because of the heavy Roman influence) were actually concentrated the greatest concentration of humanity in history. With a range essentially spanning from the Arctic to the mid-Sahara, and from the Atlantic to the Volga and Iranian mountains, and with trading posts in India, Rome embraced or directly (or semi-directly dominated) a full one third of the population of the whole Earth. No other Empire has come close.
And Rome's particular status as the FIRST grand empire in Europe proper, and the uniter of the entirety of the ancient Middle East (except for Iran) within its boundaries brought together every competing tradition and placed it all under one ruler and one system.
Which meant that the new faith could reach, by the roads and within the realm, a third of the people of the Earth within a few short years, and all with one overlord's language, or two, Greek in the East, Latin everywhere.
That has never happened again.
The fact of Rome was the moment in history before the present and mass communications and high-speed travel where one man and a small band could reach a third of the people of the earth. It was big enough and antique enough that oppression could be brutal, but not effective.
Had Jesus come earlier or later, there would have been no Rome as foundation for rapid expansion.