Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem
“So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with spices as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.” John 19:40-41
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb… they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus…two men stood by them (the women) in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’ ” Luke 24 1-5
Easter Blessings to all! The Christian faith is entirely dependent upon the death and resurrection of Jesus for salvation. It is NOT dependent upon knowing the exact location of those events - but it is interesting!
Over the past month there have been press reports of preliminary findings under the floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Academic papers and official findings will probably take years to produce, but some unofficial preliminary findings have been discussed in the press. The presence of grape vines and olive trees is preliminary evidence that the area was a garden 2000 years ago. There are some other factors that make the Church of the Holy Sepulcher a good fit for the location of the crucifixion and resurrection:
The church and tomb within the church were outside of the 1st century city walls
There are other 1st century tombs accessible within the church
From all we’ve read this is the only acrosolium in Jerusalem with a single chamber
Clear evidence that the area was a quarry until the 1st century
The site has been continuously venerated from the 1st century onward
Helena had the original church built over the venerated site.
Early historians record that Hadrian built a temple to Jupiter and Venus during the reconstruction of the city as Aelia Capitolina - attempting to usurp the sacred site for pagan worship - thus actually preserving the use and memory of the site.
Whether or not we like thinking of this site as the place, at the very least it is in the vicinity and awe inspiring to feel you are close to where these events happened.
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Edicule inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that is over an empty tomb which is a proposed site of Jesus’ tomb.
