Today I read about this: a filmmaker who claims to have discovered the same nails that were used to crucify Jesus. I can only sigh.
I wish people could see that it’s not about the nails! The nails are just like the Shroud of Turin or the Holy Grail. Are these the same artifacts that were used in relation with Jesus? Maybe. Maybe not. Ultimately it doesn’t matter, because the nails and the Shroud and the Grail will all pass away. They’re all just physical material things. One fire, earthquake, or some other natural disaster, and they could be destroyed and lost forever.
Jesus won’t go away.
When the nails are gone, and the Shroud is gone, and the Grail is gone, Jesus won’t go anywhere. The presence of those material objects has absolutely no impact on the presence (or absence) of Jesus.
Forget about the nails. Forget about the Shroud. Forget about the Grail. Forget about everything material that may or may not somehow be related to Jesus’ time on earth. It doesn’t matter.
All that matters is Jesus.