Worldwide broadcast : television cameras were trained on the sky, ready to film Jesus’s arrival live, without really knowing whether he would come from outer space or by some other means. Every newspaper carried headlines about the most eagerly awaited event in two thousand years: “Jesus is back !” But as the excitement surrounding his return began to subside, a certain apprehension spread through newsrooms. After all, they had duly noted that God was displeased with our behavior over the past two thousand years.

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Some of the more alarmist commentators wondered whether Judgment Day had arrived, or whether Jesus was about to announce the end of the world, enslavement to Eloha, or even forced exile to another planet ! Every possibility was being considered, and these journalists did not hesitate to make predictions that were more or less reassuring. They expected a message of peace and love, despite the many sins committed by humankind, but at the same time they feared the threat of God’s punishment against the worshippers of the golden calf. In the world’s capitals, governments were preparing for the worst, without really knowing what they were supposed to prepare for. How should they react to Jesus, this “extraterrestrial” who undoubtedly had the power to obliterate the Earth ?

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The UN Security Council met in an emergency session but failed to agree on a common position. It was merely decided that the Secretary-General, Serigne M’Backé Ndiaye, would travel to Giza to meet Jesus on behalf of humanity. But his mandate contained no specific instructions. He would simply have to listen to him and then report back to the UN General Assembly, which would remain in permanent session. However, as the hours passed, it became known that most of the heads of state and government on the planet had announced their intention to attend his arrival in person. They had surely realized that an event of such magnitude could not take place without them ! Ultimately, the Secretary-General’s role would be that of a mere spokesperson.

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As for the protocol officials, they were tearing their hair out trying to figure out how to receive their visitor. Should he walk ahead of Mr. Ndiaye, or should it be the other way around ? Where should the Pope stand ? What did Jesus eat and drink? Did he have any needs that had to be attended to ? Should a room be reserved for him in the finest hotel in Cairo, which might seem rather incongruous given that Christ had often slept in people’s homes during his first preaching journeys ? What could they possibly arrange when they had no idea what his schedule would be ?

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As a precaution, the Sphinx esplanade was transformed into a landing strip for a large interplanetary craft, as well as a viewing area for spectators. Red velvet chairs were placed facing the tarmac, where a large circle had been drawn to guide the possible extraterrestrial pilot. From there, a long red carpet was rolled out to the first official seat, that of the Pope. It had indeed been agreed that the UN Secretary-General would step forward to meet Jesus, while the Pontiff would be the first head of state to bow before him. A welcome compromise between spiritual and temporal power ! In any event, the front row, apart from my friends and me, was composed exclusively of representatives of the various faiths.

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Dozens of cameras were positioned everywhere, even at the top of the Great Pyramid. An impressive security operation had been put in place, turning Giza into a veritable open-air bunker. Attack helicopters circled overhead, while fighter jets patrolled at regular intervals above the site, from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Finally, NASA was commandeered to observe and, if necessary, analyze the flight of an extraterrestrial craft, and above all to try to determine where it had come from.

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On the day itself, everyone was there. Because of climate change, the heat was suffocating. Officials wiped their foreheads, while assistants went from one person to another handing out bottles of water. Only the Pope seemed unfazed beneath his immaculate robes. I was sitting beside Elena, who was wearing a black dress, very understated and classic, entirely appropriate to the circumstances. Her face was radiant, and her hand still held mine tightly… Henri and Franck were almost unrecognizable in their formal suits. I could tell they felt uncomfortable in this solemn atmosphere, but I think they would not have traded their places for anything in the world !

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Suddenly, just minutes before the scheduled arrival, a heavy silence descended over Giza. At last, a craft appeared on the horizon. It was no more than a tiny speck in the sky, but it quickly grew at astonishing speed. The cameras tracked it, much like the old space shuttles when they returned to Edwards Air Force Base in California. NASA engineers had even managed to calculate the time remaining before landing, allowing television networks to display a countdown of the minutes and, soon, the seconds.

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The spacecraft, for that was what it had to be called, was oval-shaped and moved silently. It was enormous—approximately one hundred meters long and forty meters wide—and covered in a material that appeared to be gold. There were no markings on it. A white halo emanated from its base, although no one could tell at first whether it was smoke or water vapor. As it approached the landing site, at a height of about one thousand meters, it slowed down and began a gradual descent. Everyone in the crowd held their breath. Wherever giant screens had been set up, people began to cheer with joy. Waves of applause swept through cities, countries, continents. An extraordinary hope accompanied Jesus’s return : the hope of redemption and a better future.

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Instead of landing, the spacecraft came to a halt ten meters above the ground. For several long minutes, nothing happened. Then, slowly, a door that had been invisible until that moment opened, and a broad gangway descended toward the ground. Silence reigned over the Earth.

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At last, like a rock star, Jesus of Nazareth appeared—the man so often called the “Son of God.” He walked down the gangway with his arms raised in a sign of victory. The cheers and applause grew louder. It seemed as though the Earth had stopped turning! For the entire world, including non-Christians, had its eyes fixed on this very tall, handsome young “man,” with a short beard, long black hair, and a steely gaze. What charisma ! On the giant screens, his face could be seen in close-up, his tanned complexion, his natural empathy. He stopped in front of the red carpet, a broad smile on his lips. He seemed happy to be there. The Pope rushed forward and prostrated himself at his feet. He declared his complete devotion to him in approximate Aramaic. Jesus gently helped him to his feet and replied in English :

— Your Holiness, I am counting on you to spread the word of God !

— Lord, I am your humble servant…

— Then come with me, and let us preach the Good Word !

Then, seeing us in the front row, my three companions and me, Jesus warmly embraced us :

— You were my apostles; now you are my friends !

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He was dressed in a long, immaculate tunic that contrasted sharply with the dark clothing worn by the men and women in the crowd, with the obvious exception of His Holiness. The UN Secretary-General bowed before him, then shook his hand with great solemnity. I was surprised that Jesus responded to this gesture, which seemed so foreign to his own customs. But he graciously accepted it, for it was a sign of peace. Mr. Ndiaye then took the floor, standing behind a lectern bearing the United Nations motto : “It’s your world !”

— Dear visitor, on behalf of the nations of this Earth, I welcome you ! Our reception demonstrates that most of us are guided by an ideal of peace. Certainly, humanity has not always done what is right, but its evolution over the centuries, thanks to your teachings, has moved in the right direction. We still have a long way to go, and we are counting on you to help us achieve this ideal. I do not know how long your stay will last, nor the details of your visit, but please know that we will do everything in our power to facilitate your movements. Once again, welcome among people of good will !

The entire audience applauded the Secretary-General’s words of welcome, including Jesus ! I was truly surprised by how quickly he had adapted to the customs of the twenty-first century ! As a communications consultant might have said, he knew his way around !

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At last, silence fell. Jesus strode purposefully toward the lectern. It was truly strange to see him adjust the two microphones and cast a piercing gaze over the audience, like a speaker of our own time ! He began speaking in English, under the astonished gaze of eight billion human beings :

— Men and women of this world, thank you for welcoming me today ! Thank you for your warmth and enthusiasm !

A roar swept across the entire surface of the Earth.

— The path I showed you two thousand years ago was difficult and steep. The message I sent you down through the centuries weathered the storms of passion, controversy, heresy, excommunication, and inquisitions ! Nevertheless, it was a message of love and peace  I did not want to found a new religion. I wanted to speak to you about God, about His kingdom, which you now know to be universal. I wanted to speak to you about eternal life and give you this hope. Truly, I tell you, even though I was heard across the centuries, this message was shattered against the selfishness of human nature, against its inability to conceive of lasting goodness, enduring justice, and a harmonious society. Instead of following my precepts, the human beings of your planet continued to wage war, shed blood, and kill their fellow human beings. And now, the situation is worse than it was two thousand years ago ! Cruelty has replaced barbarism. Annihilation has followed in the wake of massacres. Totalitarianism has taken the place of imperialism. In short, you have learned nothing from my message, from my Gospel, as you call it.

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I saw heads of state wiping their foreheads, especially those who, claiming to be Christians, nevertheless oppressed their peoples without the slightest shame.

— So, here is what God has decided for you, human beings of planet Earth. He is giving you one last chance to mend your ways, to renounce your worship of Evil. A cycle is coming to an end. I am here to prepare the dawn of a new hope for humanity. I am going to help you change the world. And you, heads of state standing before me, I ask you to follow me, for there will be no forgiveness. The God of the Bible is a God of Mercy, but He can also be the God of the Apocalypse ! He will punish humanity with a fate even more terrible than the Flood if you do not heed me !

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I could physically feel fear spreading through the people listening to Jesus. This “me or chaos” left everyone speechless, including the journalists. He had stopped speaking and calmly observed the effect of his words. The Pope assumed a solemn expression, one that suggested consent while also betraying uncertainty. For the “Son of God” was demanding nothing less than the allegiance of humanity to himself !