A little over five years ago the Biblical Archaeology magazine published an article on an astonishing find. Archaeologists found what they believed to be the childhood home of Jesus. The settlement was discovered beneath the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Nazareth, Israel. While knowledge of the site beneath the convent was known since 1880, until 2006, the territory remained unexplored. Now, findings from that project suggest that the place where Jesus spent his formative years was very likely uncovered for the entire world to look upon in amazement.
What do you think about when you imagine Jesus’ home? It is easy to let our imaginations take us away when envisioning what Christ’s accommodations must have been. To do so would not be much unlike the ancient Jews who had the expectation of a king adorned in worldly splendor that would come to rescue them. Nevertheless, scripture gives us the accurate depiction of how Jesus was welcomed into the world – he lay among animals padded by a pile of rough straw, lifted high by the structure of a wooden manger. A dusty rack which no doubt fed the wet mouths of donkeys and other livestock the night before, now cradling the divine Child. We shouldn’t expect much more when considering how Jesus lived.
Many are conflicted concerning whether Jesus had a house at all. Consider:
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
If that were true what do we do with John 1:38?
38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. John 1:38-39
By Jewish custom, the home where Jesus grew up would have become his own following the death of Joseph. As the oldest son, Jesus would have owned that home, and quite possibly lived in it with his mother, Mary, until he began his earthly ministry around 30 years old. In that respect, Jesus may have had a home.
I tend to believe that because Jesus was always on the move from place to place, he took upon himself no ownership of earthly possessions. Trails of scripture inform us that Jesus and his disciples relied upon the generosity and financial support of his followers (many of whom were women), in order to have their earthly needs met. The curious response of Jesus in Matthew 8:20 followed a verbal commitment by a “would-be” disciple who told Jesus he would follow him wherever he went. To that end, Jesus’ response was: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” These words spoken by the Messiah are both spiritual and natural in nature. Jesus did not lay claim to anything earthly, because he knew that this world was not his home. In the same way, his followers should not expect to gain earthly wealth as a result of following him. There is even more depth to his words, however. I do not believe that Christ was simply speaking about the absence of a physical home. Indeed, he did have somewhere to rest his head at night. He was both divine and human and so he slept. Humbly, he invited the disciples to “come and see,” where he rested at night. This could have been some temporal inn he passed on the way to his next destination. But, by stating that he had no place to rest his head, I am convinced he spoke of safety and security in this natural life. Jesus could not escape his destiny. When a predator pursues a fox, he can find sanctuary in his hole in the ground. If a bird is tired in his flight, he can find rest in the abode of his nest. But Jesus would find no such place to shield him from the impending judgment that he would take onto himself for the sake of our eternal security. Jesus expressed to those who would follow him, that they should not expect to be shielded from the natural dangers that each would encounter as a result of being his follower. They would find no “rest,” until finishing the work of genuine discipleship.
Come and See
By default, many of us Americans are quite private. How long do you wait before inviting someone to come and see where you live? No doubt the COVID pandemic has caused all of us to be a lot more private and sheltered. If by chance, you moved over the course of the past year, it is likely you have passed on that new address to very few of your acquaintances! But Jesus was open – within less than minutes of meeting Jesus, two of John’s disciples wanted to follow him and know where he was staying. AND Jesus did not turn them away. Instead, he gave an invitation: Come and see. At the first these words seem still and small. They are still, but they are not small. It was an invitation to take up occupancy within the place where Jesus was living. By responding, and “abiding with him all that day,” the disciples took on something of an initiation into the life of discipleship with Christ. “Master, it is good for us to be here.”
Unlike the disciples, it is not possible for us to occupy the natural places where Jesus once lived. You may be fortunate enough to see or even walk some of the places where the feet of Jesus once treaded. While I am not yet among those, I take confidence in the still words Christ spoke to his disciples: “Come and see.” We, too, are given the invitation to “come and see” where Jesus is abiding NOW. Where is the Lord? In faith, we know that he presently sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven, but he also, through the Holy Spirit, desires to take up habitation within us. So, the question becomes “Are you Jesus’ House?”
For all that belong to Jesus, our command in this present life is to abide in him. We are to tabernacle, and “take up residence” in him, his presence. The fulfillment of that command leads to Jesus making his home in our hearts and in our lives. In this way, we become the living place of the Lord. When we allow his words to cross over into the threshold of our living rooms, the wooden frames of our life’s walls are daily transformed into sacred spaces of communion. Our lives can release a sweet fragrance that far exceeds any aromatherapy we could purchase on the market. Our living sacrifice releases a fragrance even more pleasant than the spices of frankincense, myrrh and rosemary that were highly valued in the days of antiquity. We become the answer to what Jesus’ House is like TODAY.
Daily, our aim is possess a dove-like disposition that would draw others into the habitation of Christ’s presence.
In Jesus’ House, you can live in peace. How would your approach to everyday life change if you imagined that you were occupying the house of Christ wherever you went? If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord, we are commanded to make our habitation inside of him – that is to choose to walk in the light. We choose to live lives of moral holiness, because the Holy Spirit is illumination and fire. When we fall short of this by sinning, we have a way through repentance to restore ourselves back to faithful communion with the Father through the mediation of Christ.
We may never know the truth of whether man has unearthed the stones that encompassed the life of the Young Lord. We may never know whether man has found the corners that contained the creativity and works of a youthful Carpenter. But we, who believe, have the limitless ability to decorate the true homes of Jesus by engraving his word and life’s mission on the tablets of our hearts. Do not dare draw your curtains shut, but as the lowly Jesus beckoned the disciples, so must we beckon others who should know where the Messiah lives: Come and see. Following our fellowship, may your testimony be that Christ truly lives within ME.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
I will study the way that is blameless.
When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house; Psalm 101:2
Deeper & Higher 