Back in December of 2022 I was decorating for Christmas, when the song, “I saw 3 ships come sailing in …” popped into my head. I’ve always thought it to be a somewhat strange song … so in response, I decided to place the kids’ Nativity pieces in hubby’s boats that year. (just for the jollies)
This brought me so much joy that Christmas! As the song declares – 3 ships are sailing in, and the Virgin Mary and Christ are there.
The song further states: “And all the angels of Heaven will sing …” So of course, I made sure to include the Heavenly host of angels singing on a ship as well.
This year, December has found me at the fireplace quite a bit – both kneeling as I load more logs onto the fire, as well as standing to simply get warm on cold rainy days.
Across the mantle of the fireplace are several of hubby’s boats. I glance over to the right … and there are more of hubby’s boats. The thought suddenly struck me: On that very first Christmas there might have only been 3 ships which came sailing in … but today there is a whole flotilla of ships!
That very first Christmas, when Jesus Christ was born, only a small handful of people came to worship Jesus as King. The shepherds (who received the announcement from the heavenly host of angels; and the wise men from the East – who arrived on “ships of the desert” / camels)
A small handful of local, poor, peasant people came to worship Jesus as King! And a small handful of people who were from far away … different land, different language, different culture … also came to worship Jesus as King!
Today … 2,000 years later … there are not just a small handful of people who are coming to worship Jesus as King. (as the song states: “3 ships come sailing in.”) But rather, millions of people are coming to worship Jesus as King! (it’s now a “whole flotilla of ships” which are coming, sailing in!)
All over the world, in every corner of the world, there are many, many people who love and follow Jesus Christ! The entire reason Jesus left Heaven and came to Earth, being born as a baby, was so that He could rescue humanity from sin. Jesus defeated Satan, sin, death, and hell! Jesus conquered! So that all people … all over the world, in every corner of the world … can have peace with God!
All people, from all over the world, in every corner of the world, can have forgiveness of sin.
All people, from all over the world, in every corner of the world, can be allowed entrance into Heaven! This is amazing!
As I stand in front of the toasty fireplace and glance over at the bookcase next to the stairs … I see a whole flotilla of ships coming to worship Jesus, the great King of all humanity! There, on the far right, is a ship from Türkiye … coming in the flotilla of ships to worship Jesus! There is an outrigger canoe from the South Sea Islands … coming in the flotilla of ships to worship Jesus!
There is a bronze ship of Asia … coming in the flotilla to worship Jesus. On the far-left side is a boat whose sail lists all the places of Jesus’s ministry in the land of Israel. These people too, from the land of Israel, are coming in the flotilla to worship Jesus!
Here you can see, on the mantle, a boat from Thailand … as well as a reed boat from Lake Titicaca, Peru/Bolivia. People from every nation / & every continent will be in the flotilla of ships coming to worship Jesus!
Here you can see several Native American canoes – the two on the left are from Pacific Norwest tribes; the one on the right is from American Southwest tribes. People from every corner of our country will be in the flotilla coming to worship Jesus!
Here you can see an impressive Chinese dragon ship! As well as two small humble Bangladeshi fishing boats. Powerful, strong, wealthy people will be in the flotilla coming to worship Jesus! Humble, poor, peasant people will be in the flotilla coming to worship Jesus!
Here you can see a small replica of the Mayflower! People from all throughout history will be in the flotilla of ships coming to worship Jesus!
Here you can see a warrior Viking ship … as well as a set of bookends. Fighter, warrior, Alpha-types will be in the flotilla coming to worship Jesus. Introvert, nerdy, bookish types will be in the flotilla of ships coming to worship Jesus!
“I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne of God and in front of the Lamb [Jesus Christ!]. … And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb [Jesus Christ].’
“All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!'” – Revelation 7:9-12
There is a whole flotilla of ships sailing to Heaven for the greatest worship party of all the ages!
Is your boat part of the flotilla??
