We are all familiar with Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the
moon and his statement, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind.” But did you know a similar significant event occurred right before
this quote?

As he was leaving the Lunar Module, Buzz Aldrin made this
public announcement. “This is the LM pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity
to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause
for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give
thanks in his or her own way.”

Aldrin later wrote about his experience:

“In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic
packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the
chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine
slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the
scripture, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will
bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.’

“I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave
thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the
Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid
ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the Communion
elements.”

To think that some of the very first words spoken on the
moon were the words of Jesus Christ is amazing. And it brings new thought to
Jesus’ words spoken in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The word for “world” in the ancient Greek of this passage is
cosmos. Jesus was telling his
disciples that he is the light of the entire cosmos, of the whole universe.
Buzz Aldrin knew this and had the opportunity to honor Jesus on the moon.
Communion in outer space. How cool is that?

I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.