On April 15, 2019, the World watched in horror as the Notre Dame Cathedral was in a blaze. Hundreds of firefighters and emergency workers rushed to save what could be salvaged as onlookers watched helplessly. After many years of dedicated work and millions in donations, the site was reopened the first week of December this year. Over the next few weeks and months many of the items that were saved will be returned and placed back on display. One of the most famous items saved that day was returned last Friday. In a special ceremony, Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” was brought back into the Cathedral, presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. Why such a grand display? According to the history surrounding the Biblical relic, the crown was presented as the Biblical crown of Christ and was then acquired by King Louis IX of France in Constantinople in 1239 for 135,000 livres. The currency of France at the time would amount to nearly half the royal annual expenditures. King Louis really wanted that crown and whoever sold it to him has to go down as the GOAT of sales people of all time.
Why would anyone pay that much for something 1200 years removed from the actual time of the event and to be in that good of condition? This is where Rick Harrison’s of Pawn Stars “Let Me Call An Expert” should have originated. Think about it for just a moment. At the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, He was no different than other accused criminals of that day. No one would have saved the crown, pieces of the cross or the Last Supper cup, for that matter. It wasn’t until after the Resurrection that the eyes of the Apostles and others were opened to who Jesus really was. No one cared to save those items back then, but we see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe.
That brings me to the Nativity in our present season. Although we sing as if it were, there was nothing silent about that night. Yes, an angel and heavenly host appeared to the shepherds. Yes, the town was over crowed. And Yes, there are a lot of loud noises when a baby is born. However, most folks missed the holy part of that night. The arrival of Jesus was just one more birth among many that week. Shepherds see all kinds of crazy things while they watch their flocks by night. Life went on and people saw what they wanted to see and believed what they wanted to believe. But Mary treasured all these things in her heart.
In 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 Paul reminds the reader of the words of Isaiah 64:4 - From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. On that Christmas morning the wait was over and the words of Isaiah rang true since the beginning, no one had ever heard, understood, nor seen a God like ours. But Paul adds the source of hearing, understanding and seeing the things of God to whom will receive. In verse 10 he continues his thought from Isaiah: these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit!
With Spiritual ears, eyes and a discernible mind, we see what God wants us to see, hear, and understand about His love for us. We can allow ourselves to be influenced by all kinds of manufactured emotions and feelings at this time of the year or we can humble ourselves before the Lord and really see beyond human imagination.
Use whatever helps you to feel closer to God at this time of the year, but don’t let the commercialization of the season distract you from the revelation of God so loved the world though the birth of Jesus. We don’t need ancient relics or symbols of the season to prove the reality of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our life guides us to the truth.
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. John 16:13
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
Why would anyone pay that much for something 1200 years removed from the actual time of the event and to be in that good of condition? This is where Rick Harrison’s of Pawn Stars “Let Me Call An Expert” should have originated. Think about it for just a moment. At the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, He was no different than other accused criminals of that day. No one would have saved the crown, pieces of the cross or the Last Supper cup, for that matter. It wasn’t until after the Resurrection that the eyes of the Apostles and others were opened to who Jesus really was. No one cared to save those items back then, but we see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe.
That brings me to the Nativity in our present season. Although we sing as if it were, there was nothing silent about that night. Yes, an angel and heavenly host appeared to the shepherds. Yes, the town was over crowed. And Yes, there are a lot of loud noises when a baby is born. However, most folks missed the holy part of that night. The arrival of Jesus was just one more birth among many that week. Shepherds see all kinds of crazy things while they watch their flocks by night. Life went on and people saw what they wanted to see and believed what they wanted to believe. But Mary treasured all these things in her heart.
In 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 Paul reminds the reader of the words of Isaiah 64:4 - From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. On that Christmas morning the wait was over and the words of Isaiah rang true since the beginning, no one had ever heard, understood, nor seen a God like ours. But Paul adds the source of hearing, understanding and seeing the things of God to whom will receive. In verse 10 he continues his thought from Isaiah: these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit!
With Spiritual ears, eyes and a discernible mind, we see what God wants us to see, hear, and understand about His love for us. We can allow ourselves to be influenced by all kinds of manufactured emotions and feelings at this time of the year or we can humble ourselves before the Lord and really see beyond human imagination.
Use whatever helps you to feel closer to God at this time of the year, but don’t let the commercialization of the season distract you from the revelation of God so loved the world though the birth of Jesus. We don’t need ancient relics or symbols of the season to prove the reality of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our life guides us to the truth.
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. John 16:13
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
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