Unveiling the Divine: Ancient Mosaic Reveals Jesus’ Hidden Glory for the First Time in History
Ancient Mosaic Unveiled at Museum of the Bible, Offers Clues to Early Christian Worship
discovered the Megiddo Mosaic in 2005. The Museum of the Bible in Washington held an opening ceremony for the exhibition on September 15, 2024.” />WASHINGTON — A recently unveiled ancient mosaic at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. is shedding new light on the early Christian community and its worship practices. The Megiddo Mosaic, discovered in 2005 near the site of a prophesied battle, features a fish, an early Christian symbol, and a Greek inscription that reads “Dedicated to Jesus Christ.”
The mosaic, which adorns one of the oldest Christian prayer halls, is now on display at the Museum of the Bible as part of an exhibition that will run until July 2025. This is the first time the mosaic has been shown to the public, as it is normally inaccessible due to its location inside Megiddo Prison.
In addition to the inscriptions acknowledging Jesus’ divine identity, the Megiddo Mosaic also bears the names of five women, highlighting the significant role women played in early Christian communities. The mosaic also features the names of Roman officials who paid for its creation.
Museum of the Bible CEO Carlos Campo believes the mosaic conveys “the transformative power of the Bible.” He encourages visitors to examine and appreciate the mosaic, saying, “When I stepped back and looked at it, I understood more about the power of this object and what it was trying to tell me about ancient history, about Christian history, about this place in Israel called Megiddo.”
Campo notes that the mosaic tells a story of unity, saying, “These tiny little cubes and chips, these beautiful pieces, when put together, tell a story of unity.” He adds, “This is a remarkable story of people from different places coming together to celebrate and worship because of what they had in common.”
The Museum of the Bible worked with the Israel Antiquities Authority to bring the mosaic to the United States. Moving the mosaic required breaking apart some of the tiles without damaging the overall structure. A team of experts reassembled the mosaic within weeks of its arrival, with between 50 and 75 people working on the project.
Campo explains that the Museum of the Bible dedicated an exhibit to the Megiddo Mosaic because it is one of the earliest artifacts to refer to Jesus as a god. The mosaic also appears to show that many people converted to Christianity after Jesus’ death, as evidenced by the names of five women and a Roman soldier who appear in the mosaic.
The Megiddo Mosaic offers a unique glimpse into the lives of early Christians, who continued to worship and follow Jesus despite persecution. As Campo notes, “Some people would think that after Jesus’ death there was a dark phase where almost no one followed Christ. This mosaic shows that this is not the case and that even under persecution there were people who were faithful followers of Jesus Christ.”