Say the Americans will not be successful in Iraq, what will they do then?

Then they will be returning home.

This sounds fairly straightforward, but yes, that is kind of what will happen.

If victory cannot be achieved, they will have to admit it. Then liberation has failed, however bitter that may be.

Right now, people are already saying that times were better under Sadam Hussein.

Many people will say that they had predicted it. But who could have known about the vehement resistance? Day after day the bomb attacks, all the blood, and those kidnappings, and torture treatments. “Blessed be the peacemakers”, Scripture says. But the world’s wages is ungratefulness. If this does not work, then there is a lot to digest for the liberators. Then the whole army returns home. Then they have achieved something, but not their goal. And what further can then be done in Iraq? Only God knows.

A Road Back⤒🔗

Now this piece is not about American politics. Only this aspect matters to me: there is always a road back for the liberators, even in worst-case scenarios, when the mission has failed. Then they can go away from the fires, go back home, to their prosperity, their job, and so on.

Once I spoke with a care worker, who was back on furlough from Angola. She had given up and let go almost all her prosperity, so that she could assist people in Angola. She daily helped countless refugees to return safely to their land. It was all quite primitive; she made big adjustments while she continually had to watch out for danger. She could easily step on a mine, for example.

I thought that the Angolese would certainly appreciate that, that someone goes to such extents to assist them. But no, they continued to be aggressive. They did not trust her. For they all knew (and some verbalized it as well): if things go wrong, she would be the only person with a plane ticket. She could get out of here, but not all the homeless refugees. That led to continuous distrust, in the sense of: you are here, sure, but not really. You are not one of us. You can be gone in a flash.

And this is how it is elsewhere. The Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and those kinds of organizations, pull back their workers when safety cannot be guaranteed anymore. It is very frustrating for everyone, but this is how it goes. All these workers are devoted to their mission, but often they also have a way out. In case things go wrong.

No Road Back←⤒🔗

All this shines a special light on the coming of Jesus, our Liberator from heaven. He came into our misery, we know that, and we commemorate that with great thankfulness.

But do we also realize that he had no ticket out of there? He did not come with a vehicle that stayed around for him, for when things went wrong. No, he became one of us. He became man, born from his mother Mary. He could never turn this back. He had no sin, but he did land with us in the prison of death, without doors. There was no door for him either.

He truly became one of us, in our misery. He himself would become the way out of this. Other than this, there would be no way out. Not for us, and not for him.

Whoever thinks about this becomes quiet.

During his whole life he would be tried, tempted, ignored, and despised. Would he ever let himself fall into sin? It could be. He was like Adam in Paradise, although for him, Paradise was the dessert, the world filled with sin and all its ramifications. Jesus could sin. He could fail. Satan is bad, but not crazy. He does not tempt someone who cannot sin. Therefore, it was exciting, up to the cross. And no chance for him to retreat. The only way to retreat was in prayer.

Jesus spent hours in prayer, to so be with his Father.

This is how he was among us. Truly one with us. He did not have an escape route.

With the greatest effort, hellish torment, and in the meantime not a word, not a thought, not a desire to go against God’s plan. If Jesus would have failed in this, if liberation had failed, then there would be no road back for us, and also not for him.

Do we realize the stakes here?

Can we even comprehend this? That God’s own Son connects with us in such a way? That He makes our destiny his destiny? That he ties his future to ours?

He was born to truly become man for ever. One with us. Whatever the cost, wherever it would be. Oh come, let us adore him.

In the Spirit of Jesus←⤒🔗

Recently I read something remarkable. Someone wrote that it is not so difficult for us to let someone else share in our wealth. For we have plenty to share some with others.

It is much more difficult for us, to share in other people’s poverty. Therefore, this does not happen too often. When young people fast for 24 hours, to feel something with those who hunger, they make the newspaper. This is how special that is. We do give, but most often we do not become one with those who experience misery in their lives. At the most, we step into it with one foot, so that we can quickly get out of it. So, temporary assistance, always ready to pull back, in case it gets too crazy.

On the other hand this is sensed flawlessly. To have a crumb of wealth thrown at you is not a solution. What is desired is connectedness, without escape routes. The moment that the wealth of the world is truly and equally shared.

It is a global problem. Bigger than we can solve. We will always have a return-ticket in our pocket, so that after all aid is given, we can return to our own country, and our own lives.

As one as Jesus became, we cannot be(come).

And yet.

His Spirit makes us share in his disposition, we read. He teaches us to think as Jesus. He makes us look with different eyes at our neighbours, and at ourselves. He teaches us that love is not that you give something, but that you give yourself. To be there for your neighbour. And if needed, with your neighbour. Without too many retreating movements, but with genuine interest, and willing to do whatever it takes. Every person is one for whom Jesus came down to earth. You may show that, let others experience that; the Christmas message for all the days of the year.

To Be There 100%←⤒🔗

During the latest national (Dutch) vote, there was clearly an increase of radicalization, to the left and to the right. People voted for a hardening of positions, also because of the hardening they observed in politics already.

In the meantime, it has become clear that such a hardening brings unworkable situations. People retreat, stuck in their own right. Others, who think differently, are cut loose, it does not matter. To agree becomes more difficult all the time; to sell the wine, to which water was added, proves more and more difficult to do.

It is in the air.

No, it is in the people.

Looking back on the church year, I see many good things, by God’s grace and Spirit. I also see a hardening of positions, and the enlargement of differences. I see people who retreat from the things they do not like. And sometimes it is also so frustratingly easy to see how members of the congregation can retreat from things! They devote themselves to the congregation, yes, but with a return-ticket in their pocket. There is always a different gathering, somewhere close by. Or…if needed, a different church. There are gatherings online and, in the region, which are strongly profiled. Those are referenced, more than the local church. What is left then of the local church? Who will fully connect with her, step in there with both feet, and make efforts for her with heart and soul?

The church is bigger, is what is being said. We participate here, yes, but we can easily congregate elsewhere as well. We are here, yes, but we can also leave from here at a moment’s notice. This is sensed flawlessly by everyone who loves the congregation.

And it is a lie. For however world-wide Christ’s church may be, He adds you to this church by adding you to a local church. Even more so, he incorporates you there! That is a strong word, but right at the core of things. You become one with him and therefore with each other. You become one body, and this cannot be done halfway, with one foot in and one foot out.

To be incorporated by Christ is without a road back. In that faith, with that dedication, you choose for him. To have a return-ticket in your pocket is odious.

For this is not how Christ is, and this is not how the Spirit in you acts. By this incorporating by Jesus, very personal, the church comes into being. As you, in him, meet and embrace one another, to be together one body (of Christ). This happens through that same Spirit.

It is a great mistake to think that you can be one with Christ, while not wanting to apply that unity to his congregation. If Jesus is your home, then the church is not a hotel.

When you sit at table with him, you meet your brothers and sisters at the table. You eat with them from the same bread. You drink with them from the same cup. You have communion with them and form a community with them. To be truly one with them. To love them. To persevere with them. Without any return-ticket. Your place is here, to be faithful, to serve the other, to take each other along to the Lord.

Oh come, all ye faithful.