As I get ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior, I am reminded of the lowly manger where Jesus lay. Do you ever think it would be amazing to go visit Israel and walk where Jesus walked and visit where Jesus was born? This fall our staff retreat included a trip to a Biblical antiquities museum. They had many articles on display that they claimed to be first century and from the Israel area. They even have a stone manger that they heard might have come from the Migdal Eder or the Tower of the Flock near Bethlehem where the shepherds would have prepared the lambs without blemish for the Temple sacrifices. So to the curator, he would like to believe that baby Jesus might have even been laid in the actual manger that he has on display there at his museum. These items were neat to see and to hear what their possible history might have been. But why do we get so excited about seeing and touching things that Christ might have seen and touched? Do these things and places change us somehow? Is there some kind of blessing bestowed upon us? What is the draw? Over the centuries, we humans have even erected churches over the places where we believe Jesus events took place. Don’t get me wrong. I do often think it would be super exciting to visit Israel to see what Jesus would have seen while here on earth and to see the places I have studied in God’s Word. And I do believe it is important to have these special places to remember the life of our Savior here on earth. But am I too much of a fan of these items? By placing so much worth on these items, am I worshiping them? They are just items right? They are not Jesus himself. And while Jesus created these things, didn’t he also create the things in my backyard? Isn’t all of nature created and sustained by our God? “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3
All of creation praises the Creator. These things that are spoken of in the Bible should be discovered, studied, and displayed so that we can keep proving the Word of God is true and in so doing, prove to skeptics that Jesus lived and is the Son of God. But maybe I should keep my “fangirling” under control. I need to always remember that in seeing and studying these things from Jesus’ time, it is to always bring me closer to my God, not things. In comparison, it is pretty exciting isn’t it then that this Creator of the universe, our King of kings and Lord or lords desires to be near us?
He even made a way for us sinful broken people to be redeemed so that we can have eternal life with Him. I imagine that someday, when we are face to face with God, we will look back and think that our infatuation with the things Jesus touched was nothing compared to what we are experiencing.
I will keep enjoying and studying Biblical artifacts, but only in worship of the One who made it all. I want to praise the one who was laid in the manger. I want to get closer to the one the angels sang of. This Christmas let’s praise HIM with all our might!
I want to wish all of our Grace family a Merry Christmas!
Let all the earth rejoice!
Blessings,
Amy