Americans who still believe in the power of faith and history should take pride: the Museum of the Bible in Washington is displaying the Megiddo Mosaic for the first time, bringing a breathtaking piece of early Christian heritage to our capital where millions can see it up close. This is not some relic of dubious provenance; the exhibit frames the mosaic as the floor of the oldest-known Christian worship site and it is being presented with full conservation and educational programming for the public.
The mosaic itself was uncovered in salvage excavations near Megiddo Prison and dates to roughly the third century, around AD 230, making it a direct, tangible link to the earliest followers of Christ. Inscribed in Greek on the mosaic floor is a phrase honoring a donor and naming “God Jesus Christ,” a startling early affirmation of Jesus’s divinity that historians say predates later creedal declarations. These are not vague claims made by armchair pundits but conclusions drawn by archaeology teams and specialists who conserved the floor.
Of course, the predictable chorus of critics tried to politicize the move to display the mosaic outside Israel, complaining about context and ownership even as the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Museum of the Bible worked together to preserve and share the artifact with the world. The concern for preservation during nearby construction was the practical reason cited for relocating the mosaic temporarily, yet some commentators turned this into a culture-war story instead of celebrating the chance for millions to reconnect with their spiritual heritage. Americans should be wary when every cultural or religious good deed is twisted into fuel for ideological outrage.
Beyond the headline-grabbing inscription, the mosaic reveals a community where women played visible roles in worship and donation, underscoring the richness and complexity of early Christian life. Far from diminishing faith, these discoveries strengthen the historical case for the continuity of Christian belief and the church’s long-standing influence on Western civilization. Those who care about our nation’s moral and cultural foundations ought to champion institutions that preserve and present this history rather than tear them down.
The Museum of the Bible’s partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority and even a new documentary collaboration show that serious stewardship can coexist with bold public outreach, inviting hardworking Americans to learn and be inspired. If you love this country and the faith that helped shape it, make the time to see the Megiddo Mosaic while it’s here, tell your neighbors about it, and support museums that defend our heritage against the erasure so favored by the coastal elites. The rediscovery of this floor is a victory for truth, for history, and for every patriot who believes our story matters.
