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TITLE: If She Had Been There
By Cindy Duncan
07/21/15
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If She Had Been There

My twenty-year-old daughter would take a picture of a bug on a leaf. She has taken a picture of a bug on a leaf. On our most recent vacation, she got a great shot of a squirrel eating an ice cream that someone had dropped on the ground at Sea World. Then there was the striking picture she took of a field full of sunflowers with the sunset in the background. She will and does take pictures of just about anything. Because of this, vacations are much more documented and memorable when she and her camera are there.

Cameras are a fairly recent invention, even though they’ve gone through many changes since their inception. From the box cameras in the 1800’s to the cameras on our smart phones, the improvements have been remarkable. But what if the smart phone had been invented sooner? What if my daughter and her smart phone had been around during Biblical times?

I don’t mean to be disrespectful, and I know that God has given us everything we need to know in the Bible, but wouldn’t it be great to have pictures? I would love to see what Jesus and his followers looked like while he was with us on earth, not from Hollywood’s interpretation, but from actual photographs.

I can see my daughter taking a picture of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, maybe with #repent or #locustsforlunch as the caption. Or a close-up of the locust might actually be more her style.

I would love to have a newborn photo of Jesus lying in the manger (#presh), and one of the heavenly hosts of angels who announced his birth to the shepherds. Maybe even a picture of the wise men that travelled so far to see him. #worththejourney

To see the expression on the blind man’s face after Jesus healed his eyes with a mixture of spit and dirt would be priceless. #miracledirt

It would be fun to have a before and after snapshot of the man from Gadarenes. The first picture would be of him among the tombs, broken chains hanging from his arms, and the second one would be of him sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. That would be a good pic for #transformationtuesday

My daughter would have insisted on taking a picture of Jesus feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, (#multiplication) and a picture of the multitude of fish the disciples caught with Jesus’ instructions would certainly have given them evidence to substantiate any fish tales they might have told. #bestfishingnightever

A photo of the hole in the roof (#thatsnotgonnapasscode) where the four men lowered their friend to Jesus would be interesting, as well as one of the same man walking away from the house, carrying his bed.

I can imagine the shot my daughter would take of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It would be focused on the people laying palm tree branches on the ground in front of Jesus, with him riding the donkey looking just a little blurry in the background. #hosanna

I know we have a lot of paintings that show artist’s interpretations of the Last Supper, but a real photograph would be so much better. I wonder if we would be able to see the look of betrayal written on Judas’ face. #awkward

My heart couldn’t stand seeing a photograph of the beatings or the crucifixion, but I would love to have an audio recording of when Jesus uttered the words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” or “It is finished.”

When Jesus was taken up into the clouds, and the two angels asked the men of Galilee why they stood there gazing up into heaven, imagine what these men must have been thinking. If they had had cell phones, every one of them would have had theirs in the air recording that scene. I know my daughter would have. #wow

Memories are special to us, and taking pictures helps us to keep those memories alive. As much as I would love to have some photos of Biblical events, one day there will be no need for them. When that day comes, we’ll be able to meet the heroes of the Bible. We’ll know what Jesus looks like, because we’ll see him face to face. He will be with us for all eternity, and that memory will never fade.

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