A Tale of Two Caves

I remember the days of high school English when we were asked to write a paper that would compare and contrast two different stories or characters. Last night I was pondering the beginning and end of Christ's life, and it dawned on me that both events involved caves.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 6b-7)

Our modern creches often depict the stable scene with a primitive shacklike structure, but in all likelihood, the stable where Christ was born was in a cave nestled in the rocky hillside of Bethlehem. I imagine that a cave would have been well insulated from the elements and actually provide more protection from the desert extremes of daily heat and nightly chill. But this is the part that stops me in my tracks...in a single moment in time, a simple cave, used to feed and shelter smelly animals, was filled with the very presence of God!

The cave was FILLED!!!!

Now go forward about 33 years. That beautiful Christ child grew up. He questioned temple priests, he taught scores of people, he bucked the system and was an affront to the Roman government. Ultimately he was "tried" and crucified. He didn't have a family tomb where he could be buried, but Joseph of Arimathea offered his:

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-60)



Three days later, his friends went to prepare his body for burial (as there had been no time on the day of his Crucifixion). Imagine their surprise to discover that the tomb (cave) was empty!

The cave was EMPTY!!!!

The empty cave means that Christ was who He said He was. He is the only man, who is also God, who had the power and authority to return from the state of death. He keeps His promises, and He has provided the way for salvation. A wise child told my friend this weekend, "Jesus was born to die." But He didn't stay dead! Praise the Lord!

Two different caves, two different events, two different outcomes, one amazing God!!!