Story about space and time

Am 12. In April 1961 the world stood still and looked to Russia: Yuri Gagarin should be the first person in space, I should say because Israel defeated Russia in the space race. To understand this crazy claim we have to go back in time about 2000 years. There is a small town called Bethlehem, which at that time threatened to overflow with pilgrims. An exhausted husband looked unsuccessfully for a place to sleep for himself and his wife in all the places to stay overnight. After a long search, a friendly guesthouse owner allowed Josef and his heavily pregnant wife to sleep in the stable next to the animals. That night their son Jesus was born. Once a year on Christmas the world remembers this great event - not the birth of the first astronaut, but the birth of the one who will save all humanity.

The birth of Jesus is just one of many celebrations that are celebrated each year and it happens for all the wrong reasons. Trees are decorated, miniature cribs are set up, children dressed in bed sheets represent the solemn event in the nativity play and for a few days God is recognized for who he really is. After that, the decoration will be safely packed away to be taken out again next year, but our thoughts about God will also be cleared away together with this big mountain of objects. In my opinion, this only happens because we cannot understand the significance of the incarnation of Jesus - God becomes whole man and at the same time is whole God.

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John it is stated that Christ, who dwelt among men, is the one who created the entire universe in all its incomprehensible beauty. The stars that shine in the sky every night and are many light years away from us were created by him. The glowing sun, the right distance from us to provide us with enough heat to keep our planet in perfect equilibrium, was placed there by it at exactly the right distance. The wonderful sunset, which we marvel at on a long walk on the beach, was wonderfully created by him. Every single song that the birds chirp was composed by him. Nevertheless he gave up all his creative glory and power and dwelt in the midst of his own creation: «He who was in divine form did not consider it a robbery to be equal to God, but divested himself and assumed the form of a servant, became man the same and recognized as a human being by appearance. He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even to death on the cross »(Philippians 2: 6-8).

Whole God and all man

God himself was born as a helpless baby completely dependent on the care of his earthly parents. He was breastfed on his mother's chest, learned to walk, fell and hit his knee, had blisters on his hands when he worked with his foster father, cried over the forlornness of people, was tempted just as we become and bowed to the ultimate torture; he was beaten, spat upon and killed on the cross. He is God and at the same time a whole person. The real tragedy is that many people believe that God has been among people and lived with them for a good thirty years. Many believe that afterwards he returned to his original place and watch from there, from a great distance, how the drama of humanity is developing. But this is not the case!

When we celebrate Christmas time again this year, I want to share some really good news with you: God loves you so much that not only did He become human and reveal himself to us and stay with us for three decades, he kept his humanity and is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father to stand up for us. When Christ ascended to heaven, he was the first person in space! "There is one God and one mediator between God and man, namely the man Christ Jesus" (1. Timothy 2,5).

A mediator must be completely independent. If Jesus had returned to his previous divine state, how could he mediate for us humans? Jesus retained his humanity, and who better to mediate between God and man than Christ himself - the one who is all God and still whole man? Not only did he maintain his humanity, but he even took our lives upon himself and through this we can live in him and he in us.

Why did God perform this greatest of all miracles? Why did he enter space and time and his own creation? He did it so that when he ascended to heaven he could take us with him and that we could sit with him at the right hand of God. So not only did Jesus Christ ascend to heaven, but also each of us who accepted Jesus as his Savior. I'm sorry, Yuri Gagarin.

As you commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ this year, remember that God would never leave you in an old, dusty room and only remember you once a year on your birthday. He maintains his humanity as a constant promise and pledge to you. He never left you and he never will. Not only has he remained human, he has even taken on your life and lives in and through you. Hold on to this wonderful truth and enjoy this amazing miracle. The embodiment of God's love, the Godman, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel is with you now and forever.

by Tim Maguire