Book Ends



Stable at Harvat Karta Natural Reserve in Israel



Sometimes a random thought will pop into my head and it won't leave until I give it proper thought and usually write about it. I was doing the dished this morning and thinking about Christmas and Easter and the things they celebrate. I was thinking about how Jesus wasn't actually born in December but in the early springtime. (Wintertime would be too cold for shepards to be out with their sheep) As I mentioned in my earlier blog, the stable in which baby Jesus was born was not a traditional stable as we Americans think of them. They were frequently in the sides of hills, made of stone. That thought led me to the crucifixion of the Lord and His burial in a borrowed tomb. "Jesus's body then was conveyed to the place that had been prepared for Joseph's own body, a man-made cave hewn from rock in the garden of his house nearby." If you look at the pictures at the top and bottom of this post, do they not look similar? I find it interesting that both times Jesus's spirit entered his physical body (birth and resurrection) it was in a borrowed dwelling. The bible does not say much about the years before his ministry. We hear about the wise men coming to his house when he is a toddler, the flight into Egypt and the temple teaching at 12 yrs. Other than that we know nothing. We can assume that he was trained in carpentry, that he was not necessarily poor. Even though it isn't mentioned where he ate and slept, he had places to stay when night came. Sometimes it was a disciples house, but those are only mentioned a few times. It is most likely that he had a house, material things, but those are not mentioned because what is important is that he left those things with great frequency to tend to His Father's business.

He lived and taught by example. The fact that he was born and buried in borrowed places shows us that material possessions don't go with us. It's another example of how we should live. It didn't matter what worldly wealth or prestige he might have had, the only thing he had at the beginning of his life was humility, and the only things he had at the end of his life were his good works, his compassion and the things he learned. Everyone who dies whether they are buried in the Taj Mahal or in a paupers grave goes back to that same God that gave them life. It does not matter where we are born but how we live our lives.

His life has many important book ends. He was born in the springtime and he died in the springtime. His birth was heralded by an angel, his resurrection also. His birth was in a humble dwelling that was not his, so was his resurrection. When he left the stable it was empty, so too the tomb. How beautiful those empty stone walls are.

This time of the year we should remember that Christmas is not about material things. Quite the opposite, it remembers a life of selflessness, of service, of Love. We should take this time to dedicate our lives to the Lord and follow the example of the Master Teacher. The room born in and the room he was buried in are both empty of materials things, yet they held the One thing of greatest worth to the souls of men. This Christmas as you think of presents, think of what you can give to our loving Heavenly Father and our Redeemer and King. Think of what they give you all year round without price, and then think of what you can do for your fellow men. My gift to Christ this year is to open my mouth (or in this case free my hands) and not be ashamed of my testimony of Jesus Christ. In a world that is too concerned about what they say offending other people or hurting their feelings, I will speak boldly. In a world that shies away from public prayers and talk of God, I will shout from the rooftops. We have a loving Heavenly Father who truly did send His Beloved Son to save us from our sins. I know that Jesus is the Christ, that he died for us and still lives today. He is my brother, my friend, my counselor and my Redeemer. This year my gift at the manger is an open heart and willing hands.

" 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" Luke Chapter 2

Tomb in Israel