Thursday, May 08, 2008
There are two tombs that you visit when you go to Jerusalem. One is inside the City walls. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is there. It's a dark, cavernous place that's really crowded. I like the garden tomb better. It's less busy, more beautiful and feels like a place where Jesus would rise again. No one really knows the spot where Jesus was buried and rose again, but the garden tomb, in my opinion, is the best spot. Although we don't know the exact location we do know the tomb is empty. After you visit the "place of the skull" or Mount Golgotha, you then proceed into the garden area. It's beautifully landscaped and quite serene.
It's an ancient winery. There's a place where you can see the old wine vat. I thought about the first miracle of Jesus, turning water into wine and the wedding reception in Cana. If he did rise again in a wine garden, how cool is that? He takes water and makes wine; he takes death and brings life! We remembered the death and resurrection of Jesus by receiving communion at the garden. What a great time of inspiration and reflection. One of the members our our tour sang, "Were you there when they crucified our Lord". It was quite moving.
Scott led us in a communion meditation. He made an excellent observation. He pointed out that we were receiving communion between the place where Jesus was crucified and the place where he rose again. Isn't that where find ourselves? Somewhere between His cross and our own resurrections we find ourselves. And the best thing we can do is remember Jesus, reflect on Jesus and give ourselves to Him. I think we all moved a little closer to the Lord as we celebrated our salvation through the Lord's supper.The tomb in the garden was quite interesting as well. You walk into a mourning chamber, where people would gather and weep, I suppose. And then there is another chamber to the right where the dead person would be laid. There's a verse in Mark's gospel that is very interesting. Mark 16: 5, "As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed." This angel was sitting on the side, where the dead person should have been. I never really saw that phrase, "right side" before. The women came to mourn and entered the mourning chamber. Instead of seeing on the right side the dead body of Jesus, they were surprised to see an angel and no Jesus. They were in the mourners side of the tomb but there was no reason to mourn. The angel said it all when he told the would be mourners, "He (Jesus) isn't here. He has risen." What joy! That's really what I like best about the garden tomb - Jesus isn't there!
Jesus is alive!
Pastor Tim
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