THE GARDEN TOMB
“He is not here, but has risen…” Luke 24:6
There is a legitimate debate as to which of two locations might be the actual place where Jesus was buried and raised from the dead.
In the early 4th Century, after Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, a cave underneath a 200-year old temple of Zeus was determined to be the location of Jesus’ tomb, where The Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands today. This decision was surrounded by mysterious visions in the sky and an alleged discovery of three crosses with the power to raise the dead. (Claims that bring out the skeptic in me.) Where the old city walls used to be comes into play… HOWEVER …that debate is not the point of this story…
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Consecrated in 335 AD
The Garden Tomb, near the Damascus gate, was just unearthed in 1867, and while both locations have evidence for and against their legitimacy, the Garden Tomb has never claimed to be the definitive location, even if millions around the world believe it is.
This I know: they’re both empty.
The difference for me is that when I visit the Garden Tomb, I want to linger for hours. In the other, I can’t wait to exit. At the Garden Tomb, I feel a spirit of peace and His presence settle on my heart. In the other, I feel panicked and claustrophobic.
I concede, the Holy Sepulcher may be where it all happened! How I feel about a thing doesn’t alter its authenticity.
After all…
“We do not worship ancient stones and empty rooms - the only proper subject of worship is the One who is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
My first visit to the Garden Tomb, singing “My Savior lives…”
My first ever visit to The Garden Tomb was to capture video for an upcoming Tour in the States. In the middle of a high-production performance of My Savior My God, complete with epic video footage of Jesus’ resurrection from television’s The Bible Miniseries, the plan was to blackout all the lights except for the video wall. There I would be, sitting on the front steps of the Garden Tomb, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing “My Savior loves, my Savior lives, my Savior’s always there for me…”
“Jesus Christ Alpha Omega”
A 5th century painted cross adorns the wall inside the Garden Tomb
It ended up being my favorite moment of the concert, but during the initial filming, I could barely maintain my composure! Since childhood, I’d seen photos of this very tomb in my Picture Bible and now I’m sitting at the entrance! Trying to sing on pitch has never been more difficult!
Somehow, I managed to get through it, then decided to document the moment, apologizing in advance for taking a potentially irreverent selfie. I just didn’t want to forget.
The potentially irreverent selfie.
The moments kept getting better: someone asked if I’d be willing to lead our group in a time of communion together! I had never led communion before, and I was a little afraid of messing up HERE… But, I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. What an honor to pause for a moment, sitting outside what may be the very tomb Jesus vacated before His body ever saw decay, and remember the Bread of Life, broken for us. The cup of Salvation: His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. It was a beautiful moment indeed.
The breaking of the bread from my Isaiah 53 music video.
I’ve been back to that Garden many times since then. I’ve shared communion with other brothers and sisters. I’ve worshipped with my dear friend Joshua Aaron…I doubt I’ll ever sing in a more incredible venue in this lifetime! However…
Singing with Joshua in 2022
“How great Thou art…”
…I think my most precious moment at the Garden Tomb was just sitting by myself in peaceful tranquility, under a tree, with time…
I read through Luke’s account of our Savior’s burial and resurrection. A single, tiny leaf floated down from the branches above, landing on the open pages of my Bible.
I left it there.
It remains to this day a reminder of a very special and very real place.
A gorgeous flowering vine inside the garden.
A leaf from the garden in my Bible.
