A Cave

Jesus was born in a cave!

I was reading Our Daily Bread this morning and The Door of Humility is mentioned. Sounded like a great topic to surf! So I did. I found a great site! Homelands of the Bible.

Interesting facts about Biblical places including O Little Town of Bethlehem. The reading was all very interesting to me. The cave that is said to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, where Mary and Joseph stopped in Bethlehem, we now know as the inn that had no room. I learned that many times homes and other buildings were built in front of a cave, then the cave was used for storage or a place to keep their animals.

This knowledge has changed my idea of how I see the manger scene. My stable has wooden stalls! The Biblical manger was carved stone and probably not a wooden manger like I have drawn and pictured for my whole life.

In the Matanuska Valley (at least in Wasilla) we are still able to see Nativity scenes displayed. Some cities which celebrate Christmas forbid this! My guess is that majorities of citizens have no problem with seeing the Nativity here and there while they are out looking for places to spend their money! The majority of the rest don't care one way or the other! I also believe there are more people who have a problem with it NOT being displayed than those who don't want it displayed! How did it come to be that they are removed and forbidden from our cities?

Someday the One that was born in a hidden, back-room cave is going to return as a KING and no one will be able to ignore Him! Then what, you self-important cities? Who can you hide behind when He returns as the Mighty King of Glory that He is! You will have no excuse worthy enough to be excused!

"Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory."
Psalms 24:8-10

You probably already heard that Jesus was not a tiny baby when the travelers from the East saw him? I've heard that because King Herod had all the male babies two years old and under killed, Jesus may have been as old as two when they saw Him.

Three magi? There could have been and likely was more than that. Many say because of three gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) there were three visitors from the East. There could have been as many as 12 traveling in a caravan that followed that star.

If you enjoy reading about Biblical places then you will enjoy this website. Check it out when you have time to read. There is a lot of information there. I loved the pictures!