What does the Bible mean to you?

When you think of this collection of God’s divinely inspired Word, what does it mean to you? What did it mean to you the first time you were given a Bible? Does it still mean that much to you when you hold it in your hands today? I want you to think about that tonight as I tell you about a discovery that was made that is so unbelievable, I don’t know how anyone could doubt God’s hand in it’s story. So, let me tell you about a very interesting documentary that we watched the other night. Called:

The Mosaic Church

This archaeological finding that had initially happened in 2004. Under the grounds of a prison in Megiddo, Israel- a structure was found with an ornate mosaic floor. The floor dated back to roughly 230A.D., that’s less than 150 years after the death of the Apostle John, the only of the Apostles to die of natural causes. To put that into perspective for you, thats the same as us now looking back to 1895: FDR was 13, the Civil War had already been over for 30 years, and the first ferris wheel was already 2 years old.

So where is this place even at?

Megiddo

You might recognize the name from s few different Old Testament stories, but where most people know this place is from it’s translated name that comes much later in our Bibles.

And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon

Megiddo, or Tel Megiddo, is the site of an ancient city in northern Israel's Jezreel valley. It is believed to be the place where the battle of Armageddon will be fought. The picture shows an aerial view of Tel Megiddo.

Inscriptions

On this floor were 3 inscriptions:

Centurion: "Gaianus, also called Porphyrius, centurion, our brother, has made the mosaic at his own expense as an act of generosity. Brutius has carried out the work."  

Women: “Remember Primilla and Cyriaca and Dorothea, and lastly, Chreste.”

Christ:  “The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.” (A wealthy women of the area. The table erected permanently in the floor would have been where Christians gathered for Communion.)

Why does this matter?

During this period of Church history, there were still many who claimed that Christ was not “fully God and fully man.” But here we see in an incredibly unlikely place, that this group of Christians where proud to proclaim the same Truth then as we do today, “Jesus Christ is God.”

The reason that is was preserved for almost 1800 years is because when these Christians fled from this village, most likely during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, they covered the floor in broken pottery to hide what was underneath. Hoping, and successfully keeping the mosaic from being plundered and destroyed.

Would they really have destroyed a floor because of what was written on it? Diocletian was the most ruthless persecutor of Christians in the history of Rome. Often times people give that title to Nero, for he is the one who would burn Christians in his gardens to give light in the night. Diocletian however, sought to annihilate Christianity as a whole. Even going so far as to murder 17,000 Christians in a single month, the most ever recorded anywhere in history.

So these Christians in Megiddo, covered this mosaic up because it was for them their confession of Faith, their permanent and public confession of Christ and His Divinity, and they wanted to protect it just as many other Christians have hidden countless copies of manuscripts throughout the Holy Land that we now have today.

As I heard someone put it the other day, “The early Christians hid these things because of the Roman persecution. They did not want God’s word destroyed. And so God used the Romans to help preserve His word throughout time.”

They cared enough to hide these away from Rome, but they would not denounce God to save their own lives.

That is how much it meant to them.

Now we come to our next big question…

How does this apply to us 1800 years later?

I would like to impart on you a few quotes that I rather enjoy that I believe will answer that question.

“People don’t die for a lie.”

One of the greatest testaments to our faith and the Truth of the Gospel in that so many of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ were willing to die, rather than to denounce Christ and the Salvation that can come only through Him. Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I mentioned earlier about the Apostle John dying in roughly 100 A.D., early Church history tells us that every single one of the other Apostles was Martyred for the Faith.

From this mornings Scripture reading: Hebrews 11:36–38 “Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

“We must defend the Truth at all costs, even if we are reduced to just Twelve again.” Karol Józef Wojtyla

You might know him better as Pope John Paul II. Now we might have some differences on certain theological grounds, but I think we should all strive to reach the level of conviction for our Faith as what is expressed in this quote.

I’m now going to bring up again my question from the beginning of the lesson:

What does the Bible mean to you?

This Wednesday is significant for many Christians around the world, probably the most common name for it is “Ash Wednesday.” It marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday.

These 40 days for many will be a time of “fasting,” now for many this is a dietary fasting, but it has become more common for people to try and give up something for Lent that they see as a distraction from God and His Word.

But I would like to challenge each of you to add something rather than take it away, and you don’t even have to wait till Wednesday to start it either.

Try and think about the Bible the same way a first century Christian would have. Think of how deeply they would have treasured the ability to carry God’s Word with them where ever they went. Acknowledge that this is not just some book. And remember the countless Christians that have died for what we hold in our hands.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Again the Hebrews writer says in Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,”

This is said immediately following the “Honor-roll of Faith” and we know that God is not the God of the dead but the living, so these witnesses talked about are not dead but alive in God just as we hope to be if we can strive as they did.

“let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I’m going to leave you with one last quote to think on and carry with you as you leave here.

This one comes from a fourth century theologian, St. Augustine of Hippo

“Treat the Scripture of God as the face of God. Melt in front of it.” St. Augustine of Hippo

We always want to extend the invitation for any who have never accepted it, but we also always offer it for those who have joined themselves to Christ and His Kingdom, but perhaps need to come back again to Him.

If you have any need at all, please come.