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The largest star in our Milky Way galaxy, known as "Eta Carinae," appears to be nearing the end of its life. Astronomers, who are watching it intently, say that it could blow up any time with an enormous burst of light equal to billions of suns. Such an explosion is called a "supernova" and is thought to occur when a star uses up all its available fuel and collapses, unleashing a tremendous amount of energy. The last one to occur in the Milky Way, and visible to the naked eye even in daylight, was in 1604. For Eta Carinae, according to astronomers, this could happen next week or "100,000 years from now."
The writer to the Hebrews speaks of another unique and special death. It has already taken place. It is the death of Jesus Christ, God's true and glorious Son, who says, "I am the bright morning star." (Revelation 22:16) In obedience to God the Father, he was "made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace he should die for everyone." Through this mighty act of God, power is released to free us from our sins and to deliver us from death and hell. But, unlike the supernova, the death of Christ did not mean his extinction. He was raised from the dead and restored to his full glory with God the Father. The radiance of his redemption light shines upon us through the Gospel. Through faith in Christ we lay hold of God's forgiveness and we look to the living Christ for understanding and for help for all of our needs.
-- Clausen
The largest star in our Milky Way galaxy, known as "Eta Carinae," appears to be nearing the end of its life. Astronomers, who are watching it intently, say that it could blow up any time with an enormous burst of light equal to billions of suns. Such an explosion is called a "supernova" and is thought to occur when a star uses up all its available fuel and collapses, unleashing a tremendous amount of energy. The last one to occur in the Milky Way, and visible to the naked eye even in daylight, was in 1604. For Eta Carinae, according to astronomers, this could happen next week or "100,000 years from now."
The writer to the Hebrews speaks of another unique and special death. It has already taken place. It is the death of Jesus Christ, God's true and glorious Son, who says, "I am the bright morning star." (Revelation 22:16) In obedience to God the Father, he was "made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace he should die for everyone." Through this mighty act of God, power is released to free us from our sins and to deliver us from death and hell. But, unlike the supernova, the death of Christ did not mean his extinction. He was raised from the dead and restored to his full glory with God the Father. The radiance of his redemption light shines upon us through the Gospel. Through faith in Christ we lay hold of God's forgiveness and we look to the living Christ for understanding and for help for all of our needs.
-- Clausen
