Liberty Biblical Museum

 If I were to pick one place to study in the library, it would be the terrace level. It’s quiet, you can hide away in some corner, and friends are less likely to walk by and interrupt your studies. Yet, despite the number of times I’ve studied in the terrace level, I’ve never been to the Liberty Biblical Museum. It’s right there! Yet, I’ve never been there--probably because whenever I’m down there, it always seems to be closed.

Somehow, though, I never noticed that they have their hours posted on the door. How convenient. After picking a time that worked, Michelle and I visited the museum this afternoon to complete our history assignment--and to check off an item on my Liberty college list.

 

Even if you only spent ten minutes in this museum, you could not fail to notice three items in particular. The first centerpiece of the museum is 3-D topographical map of ancient Israel. I spent far too much time at this display, looking for Bethlehem and Jerusalem and the major bodies of water. I was, however, sad that this map did not include Mt. Sinai.

 

The second centerpiece of the museum is a large recreation of the Last Supper. On the left of this display, a sign helpfully displays the Jewish customs regarding Passover and how Jesus and His disciples would have been arranged. While we sit at the table, they lay on their side and even shared some dishes. I hadn’t realized that, at important meals, guests were seated in a certain order. At the Passover, for example, Jesus was probably second from the left—the place of honor reserved for the host. On his right hand, at the far edge of the table, sat the Apostle John. The guest at the end of the table was responsible for protecting the host. Judas sat on the other side of Jesus. I loved the visual picture of Jesus’ Last Supper.

 

This hunk captures our attention for the final centerpiece of the museum. He represents the average Roman soldier during the time of Christ, but his armor also pictures the armor of God described in Ephesians 6:10-20. A sign describes each component of his armor, also describing how our spiritual armor functions in the same way. 

While these may be the major high points of the museum, exquisite artifacts fill the entire museum. The tiny idol Molak reminds me how my God is so much bigger and stronger. The lion doorknocker provides inspiration for my future house (just kidding). And this display depicting Christ’s brutal torture and death lifts my eyes to my gracious Redeemer.