Lesson From Israel - Part 6 (and final part)
On our final day in Israel (October 25th), we spend most of the day in and around Jerusalem commemorating Jesus’ final days. We followed what is probably the real Via Dolorosa, went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, walked the traditional Via Dolorosa (from the end to the start), and ended the day at “The Garden Tomb.”
I must say that going to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was, for me personally, a great disappointment. Rather than helping me experience something of the reality of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, I was taken back by the sight of a huge stone cathedral. The plaza in front of the church was filled with a mass of people. Inside the church were lines of people walking through a maze of a structure, waiting to kiss the slab of stone on which Jesus’ body was supposedly prepared for burial or to light candles or to get into the massive shrine that had been built on the site of the supposed tomb. The crowds of people in line made it almost impossible to even get a decent picture, no less experience some sort of worship. For me it was almost sad to see what the Church has done to places such as this (the same is true for the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). The huge structures and ornate shrines seem to take away from the reality of what actually took place there, making it hard for the worshipper to envision what it really must have been like for those who first experienced the events of the Bible.
The contrast was found, however, in “The Garden Tomb.” Whether or not it is the actual tomb that was used by Jesus or the actual garden that his tomb was in did not really seem to matter (although there are those who claim it is the real garden that held his tomb). Because of the simplicity of the place, including the tomb dating back to Jesus’ day that has been excavated there, it was easy to worship, to pray, to envision Mary and women and then Peter and John running to the tomb and finding the body of their Lord gone. As we shared communion and sang hymns together, it was truly a joyful and spiritual time. The simplicity and beauty of the place brought the death and resurrection of Jesus to life.
It is not my intent to denounce or to detract from the beautiful cathedrals and shrines that have been built in honor of our Lord. But, I am reminded that sometimes the reality of Christ best comes alive to us in the more simple aspects of life. God is not always best experienced in the elaborate and ornate. Often He is found in the very things we take for granted; in the things that are even humble and common – a walk in the woods, time spent with loved ones, a simple prayer with a friend.
In fact, isn’t that just how Jesus came? He didn’t come dressed in the ornate robes of royalty. He was born in a stable, placed in a feeding trough, and wrapped in strips of cloth. He came as one who was humble, meek, common, and lowly that he might reach the common and lowly masses of humanity – of which you and I fit into very, very well.
Jesus said of himself, “….for I am gentle and lowly in heart….” (Matthew 11:29 –NKJV) The Apostle Paul wrote, “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 – NIV)
During this Advent Season, let’s remember that we do not need the ornate and the elaborate to experience Jesus. Rather, we might best experience him in the beauty and simplicity of the very common parts of our very ordinary lives.
Have a great day!
-Pastor Tim Harris
I must say that going to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was, for me personally, a great disappointment. Rather than helping me experience something of the reality of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, I was taken back by the sight of a huge stone cathedral. The plaza in front of the church was filled with a mass of people. Inside the church were lines of people walking through a maze of a structure, waiting to kiss the slab of stone on which Jesus’ body was supposedly prepared for burial or to light candles or to get into the massive shrine that had been built on the site of the supposed tomb. The crowds of people in line made it almost impossible to even get a decent picture, no less experience some sort of worship. For me it was almost sad to see what the Church has done to places such as this (the same is true for the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). The huge structures and ornate shrines seem to take away from the reality of what actually took place there, making it hard for the worshipper to envision what it really must have been like for those who first experienced the events of the Bible.
The contrast was found, however, in “The Garden Tomb.” Whether or not it is the actual tomb that was used by Jesus or the actual garden that his tomb was in did not really seem to matter (although there are those who claim it is the real garden that held his tomb). Because of the simplicity of the place, including the tomb dating back to Jesus’ day that has been excavated there, it was easy to worship, to pray, to envision Mary and women and then Peter and John running to the tomb and finding the body of their Lord gone. As we shared communion and sang hymns together, it was truly a joyful and spiritual time. The simplicity and beauty of the place brought the death and resurrection of Jesus to life.
It is not my intent to denounce or to detract from the beautiful cathedrals and shrines that have been built in honor of our Lord. But, I am reminded that sometimes the reality of Christ best comes alive to us in the more simple aspects of life. God is not always best experienced in the elaborate and ornate. Often He is found in the very things we take for granted; in the things that are even humble and common – a walk in the woods, time spent with loved ones, a simple prayer with a friend.
In fact, isn’t that just how Jesus came? He didn’t come dressed in the ornate robes of royalty. He was born in a stable, placed in a feeding trough, and wrapped in strips of cloth. He came as one who was humble, meek, common, and lowly that he might reach the common and lowly masses of humanity – of which you and I fit into very, very well.
Jesus said of himself, “….for I am gentle and lowly in heart….” (Matthew 11:29 –NKJV) The Apostle Paul wrote, “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 – NIV)
During this Advent Season, let’s remember that we do not need the ornate and the elaborate to experience Jesus. Rather, we might best experience him in the beauty and simplicity of the very common parts of our very ordinary lives.
Have a great day!
-Pastor Tim Harris
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