introduction

One of Us

Why did Jesus come to earth?

According to NASA there are about 8.8 billion planets the size of earth in our galaxy, the Milky Way, all orbiting around stars much like our sun. These 8.8 billion planets are in what scientists call the “Goldilocks zone”: a zone that is not too cold and not too hot for life to flourish. Astronomers say the next step in exploration is to invent powerful telescopes that can take a closer look at these planets to see whether or not there is life. If there is, and like Elliott in the movie E.T., we discovered that there are creatures on some distant planet, it’s a natural urge to try to connect and communicate with them in some way. We would want to communicate with these extraterrestrial creatures because we are human beings; designed in the image of a God, according to Scripture, whose nature is to reach out and communicate.

During the Advent season, we remember how the invisible God reached out to communicate. He arrived on our planet as a human baby—as one of us. Why did God make this journey from the glories of heaven into a dark, cold stable in Bethlehem? Why did the infinite, invisible Spirit take on skin and become one of us? Why does anyone communicate? So that something can be known. But what exactly can be known from God putting skin on? Let’s explore that in the following pages.

Ken Shigematsu