Relics And The Past

In Rome, in the Vatican Museum, are 28 marble stairs. Once a year the Vatican opens up this exhibit to the general public and removes the wooden covering protecting the marble stairs underneath. These stairs are called the “Holy Stairs” and they were brought here from the palace of Pontus Pilate located in Jerusalem. Tradition says that Jesus Christ ascended these chairs after being convicted by Pilate and beaten by his palace guards. There are three crosses on the stairs that represent the locations where Jesus collapsed and shed drops of his blood. Pilgrims wait for hours for the privilege of ascending these steps and replicating the climb of their Savior.

It has been over two thousand years since Jesus died and was resurrected and people are still fascinated by the relics of his past. Items such as the Holy Grail, The Shroud of Turin, and many more to numerous to list in this post. (You can click here to view a partial list) This desire to touch something that has been used by the Divine, is not, of course, confined to just Christians. And it's not just confined to religious artifacts.



For people who are so consumed with the past, we remain, by and large, ignorant and apathetic of the lessons of history. We long to touch the relics of old yet remain immune to the rhythms of past decisions. Is that because we only desire the relics that are a foothold to our heroes? Or is it more about reliving the past and not thinking about our future? Jesus himself had something to say about those in the future who wouldn't see him in the flesh. "I pray for these followers (His current disciples), but I am also praying for all those who will believe in me because of their teaching." (John 17:20) Our Savior, prayed for His current and future believers, those who saw Him in the flesh and for those who would only know Him through His words.

I think all of us understand the appeal of the tactile. To touch the fragments of history. But in the case of Jesus it seems He deliberately appeared during a time in history where he would leave the least physical footprint. No pictures or paintings. No personal belongings. No house or property.

What He did leave us were His words. His words that are the difference between eternal life or eternal death, are the legacy that He left us to discover. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all had and bought that field." (Matthew 13:46)