Father and Son are so closely bound up with one another in the Spirit that they “indwell” one another. The purpose of this relational God for his creation is also relational. He wants to reach beyond his own shared life as Father, Son and Spirit to include us in love relationship. Furthermore, the way he achieves his purpose is also true to who he is as deeply relational. For God comes as close to his creatures as he can – in becoming human.

But while God wants to turn towards us we want to turn away from him pursuing our own goals. Indeed, we want to be the goal ourselves. So there is a chasm between God and humanity. A gulf that we cannot cross and do not even want to cross. The mutual relation intended between God and humanity needs to be repaired both from the side of God towards humanity and from the side of humanity towards God.

This chasm between God and humanity has now been bridged by God’s himself. He has himself acted in Jesus to reconcile the estranged parties. For Jesus is God drawing near to humankind and humankind brought near to God. In him the two are brought together as one. And so in him the goal of creation is sure “according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:9). Yes, everything brought together and summed up in him!