MIF 1:6 (Nov-Dec 1969)
Editorial
Christ A Cosmonaut?
MOSCOW (UPI): “Christ was a cosmonaut, according to a Soviet Philologist.”
V. Zaitsev claims that the star of Bethlehem was actually a spaceship, and that the Lord Jesus Christ was a visitor from another planet. Zaitsev says, “The descent of God to earth is really a cosmic occurrence.” He further suggests that this be considered a historical event and that we replace the title “Word of God” with a new term, Cosmonaut Jesus Christ.
The Russian government newspaper Izvestia was skeptical in its report and found it difficult to understand how a Soviet Philologist could agree with Western Philologists.
A few have accepted Zaitsev’s words as a Russian acknowledgment of Christ Jesus, but to well-taught Christians his words present a miserable caricature of our Holy Lord Jesus Christ; they are the product of a fertile and atheistic imagination.
Yes, Christ came into the world, but He came not from another planet, but from the bosom of the Father (John 1:18). He did not come by a spaceship; “He was made of a woman” (Gal. 4:4); He was born of the blessed Virgin Mary (Matt. 1:23); He was made of the seed of David according to the flesh (Rom. 1:3).
Our Lord did not come into this world as a cosmonaut; angels announced to the shepherds near Bethlehem: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). When the men of Samaria had met the Lord Jesus, they said, “This is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42).
The Star of Bethlehem was not a spaceship, and in all probability not even a natural astronomical phenomenon, but in keeping with the miraculous event, a supernatural manifestation.
Well might we join with Mary in her Magnificat, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46-55).