When Jesus came into our company, it was day...
The whole history of humanity pivots, one might say, upon the works of
Jesus. All that has come to pass since—the good and the evil, the bright
and the dark—everything turns upon these works of Jesus which are
directed toward the future of humanity.
It is something like the first beginning, about which, respecting our
earth, it is so beautifully and significantly said: “‘Let there be
light’; and there was light.” From that moment on, there was nothing that
could stop it. The earth had light, and from that light came everything
else—all life, all aspects of life, all the perfecting of life.
Everything, down to the deepest depths of the earth, even the coal mines,
comes into being through the light. But what a development it all went
through! There was much stirring of dust and mire, much destruction, much
horror, much abomination—a fearful development—until finally there came
out of the earth that which we enjoy today.
In like manner, a kind of light is given in Jesus. It is directed
particularly toward man and, to begin with, toward only relatively few
men. But whether shining upon many or few, the power of the Spirit’s
light calls people out to strive for a high purpose and not be satisfied
with baseness. This light has appeared and even now shines forth. This
light of the Spirit which has been implanted in humanity produces the
greatest development, has the greatest power of revolution and advance
for mankind, right up to the present day. A great deal of dust has been
raised, the hideousness of man has been uncovered, because sin and
brutality and vulgarity had to have their day. The history of Christendom
following the coming of the light is a horror to behold and study. But
what of that?...
It is so obvious in human history: there comes a time when something is
born; and then things stand still and nobody follows up. There have been
developments, and beginnings have been made, which we have failed to
recognize. No one can comprehend the mere three years of Jesus’ ministry
as being the occasion of the greatest revolution ever to occur in human
society. The rise of empires and nations’ wars, battles, and
victories—these are no “events,” no “creations.” In comparison to the
high calling that is mankind’s, all the empires of earth fade to
nothing—as do all differences of race and language, all enmity, all
hostility and arrogance between man and man. In the light of the creation
that has come to us in Jesus Christ, all these things dissolve; nothing
of them remains to be found. But that which does remain, which truly is
of value for us—that has the permanence of eternity.
--
Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
www.blumhardts.com
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