Story about space and time

Am 12In April 1961, the world stood still and looked to Russia: Yuri Gagarin was supposed to be the first human in space—I say supposed to be because Israel beat Russia in the space race. To understand this outlandish claim, we have to go back in time about 2000 years. There was a small town called Bethlehem, which at that time was overflowing with pilgrims. An exhausted husband searched unsuccessfully for a place to sleep for himself and his wife in all the local accommodations. After a long search, a kind innkeeper allowed Joseph and his heavily pregnant wife to sleep in the stable next to the animals. That night, their son Jesus was born. Once a year, at Christmas, the world remembers this momentous event—not the birth of the first astronaut, but the birth of the one who would save all of 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.

The first chapter of the Gospel of John tells us that Christ, who dwelt among humankind, is the one who created the entire universe in all its unfathomable beauty. The stars that shine in the night sky, many light-years away from us, were created by him. The blazing sun, positioned at precisely the right distance to provide us with enough warmth to keep our planet in perfect balance, was placed by him at exactly the right distance. The magnificent sunset we admire on a long walk along the beach was wondrously created by him. Every single song the birds sing was composed by him. Yet, he relinquished all his creative glory and power and dwelt amidst his own creation: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, but emptied himself, taking the very nature of a servant, being born in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Phil 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!

As we celebrate Christmas again this year, I want to share some truly good news with you: God loves you so much that not only did He become human and reveal Himself to us and dwell among us for three decades, but He retained His humanity and now sits at the right hand of God the Father to intercede for us. When Christ ascended into heaven, He was the first human being in the universe! “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (1. Tim 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