We’ve lost count of the people who have come to the theater and told us how being there takes them back to their time in Israel. That has always delighted us…particularly Robin. When she was doing her design research, she compiled a thick notebook filled with photographs, sketches, and notes. She pored over those pages as she sat at her drafting table during the weeks of producing the painstaking and inspired drawings that we would follow during the construction.
As proud as I have always been of the work she did, it wasn’t until we wound our way through the maze of narrow streets and passages in the heart of Jerusalem over these past ten days that I fully realized what a remarkable job she did capturing the essence of that ancient and exotic city.
Robin In Jerusalem
It will take time to fully process the effect of being in those places we have all read about in the Bible. Standing between the pillars in the middle of the synagogue in Capernaum, in the exact spot where Jesus stood when He spoke there, was an experience beyond words. Our hotel window overlooked a rocky field etched with a thousand cross-hatched goat paths. Each night I looked out at that field, and the limestone buildings of Bethlehem that shone beyond, bathed in moonlight. That field is still just as it would have been…
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Our tour of the Holy Land was one unimaginable moment like that after another. And each place further confirmed to my heart that the Lord has given us only a glimpse of all that He plans to do in and through Ragtown Gospel Theater.
Being in those storied places in Israel, I experienced what many people tell us they glean from being at Ragtown. It was the reality of the simple humanity of those people who witnessed the miracle of Jesus being born and living among men, and revealing that He was indeed “God with us.” It was realizing what a gift their testimony is to us, and at such a cost to them. I am so thankful that we and the people who are drawn to attend can be part of something that honors those lives, and our Lord. As we resume our beautiful production of LAZARUS, continuing from March 22nd through May 4th, I know God is going to be revealing wonderful new songs and plays from the seeds planted during our journey. We can’t wait to share those with you.
In Dependence…
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