A letter from the empty tomb
Perhaps, a letter to those looking for Jesus, is more accurate.
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:5-6)
I didn’t go to the tomb wondering if it was still occupied.
“I have faith that this was true and didn’t need to see this to believe, but what this will do for my faith in the days ahead, I can only slow myself to take it in.”
I did, however, scratch my head to think that faith-filled believers wonder if it’s this place or that, this tomb or that spot, inside or outside the Jerusalem walls where our Lord Jesus was crucified and buried. On my journey in Israel, I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb. Both places provide historical and biblical evidence that this was the spot, but who really knows. And I’ll be honest. I did give myself a few minutes at both sites to consider the possibilities and to weigh the facts. I like evidence. It’s necessary for reasoning. I also like to hear God’s Spirit speak. It’s crucial for faith.
At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, “six sects of Christendom - Armenians, Catholics, Copts, Egyptians, Greek Orthodox, and Syrians - display jealous rivalries over the goings-on within. Because of this disunity, an Arab keeps the key to the building.” I write it again: “Six sects of Christendom - Armenians, Catholics, Copts, Egyptians, Greek Orthodox, and Syrians - display jealous rivalries over the goings-on within. Because of this disunity, an Arab keeps the key to the building.” Oh, how this is crushing news to my spirit. That a religion who doesn’t even concern itself with this place keeps the key.
A shrine over the spot believed to be the tomb where Jesus was buried inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
That division exists under one roof. That we’ve lost sight of God and placed our eyes on an altar, a religion, a theory, a place, tradition. Upon entering, gawdy icons, strong incense, and confused crowds shuffled around a tight space. It was clear there wasn’t a clear purpose inside. I saw a mother hold her toddler daughter down on a slab of concrete against her will. Someone said this slab is revered as the place Jesus’ body was laid after taken off the cross. Yet, I look up and around and gold filigree and stone columns block out any imagination of a cross being nearby. I had my fill and was overcome with a moment of suffocation and escaped outside. Oh, fresh air. We barely escaped as a priestly man was barring the door from any new entries. The church was closed for it had too many shufflers inside.
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not her, for he has risen, as he said.” (Matthew 28:5-6)
But this is why I remind us of this, “to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19-23) If you and I believe in Jesus, then we exhibit our faith in Jesus resurrected and can give up looking for Him among the dead or tradition or the law and can talk with Him directly through prayer.
Let’s leave the walls and just on the other side is the Garden Tomb. I found it much more peaceful, but still empty. Thank God! Discovered in 1884 by Charles Gordon, it offers a more tranquil place to ponder and reflect. We do know that the tomb would have been near the place where Jesus died according to John 19:41, “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.”
Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man who is believed to have had a winepress and a tomb. On location is a hill of rock that looks like a skull and within a stone’s throw is an ancient winepress and garden tomb.
“Come, see the place where he lay.”
Let me save you a trip! Or perhaps we can go together one day!
It should overwhelm us that Jesus is alive!
It should be difficult to grasp. Difficult to convey to others.
To believe in the resurrected Son of God requires faith. And faith is believing without seeing.
We do have eyewitness accounts though.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John describe the moments at the tomb from their perspectives, but all make it clear that Jesus has risen. Jesus reveals Himself in ways that speak to each of us.
From the empty tomb, for those who are looking for Jesus, I write to tell you I have asked for His forgiveness several times on this journey for I have at times made it all about the place. In Christ’s gentleness and mercy towards me, He reminds me that He’s made me to see in pictures and this land has afforded me such. I may never be able to find the words as I have looked for them around this particular garden and allowed my mind to travel back to the Sea of Galilee, my favorite place. To think of the fun plan Jesus orchestrated on the beach that day with His disciples and the emotions of Mary’s heart to hear Him call her name. (Read notes above) My Jesus has taken me on walks through Jerusalem and has given me more of Himself. He has sat with me on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem and listened as I prayed over my city of San Francisco, having no clue what was spreading across the world in the form of a fierce, isolating, and fatal virus. My moments at the Garden Tomb were another reminder on my journey with Christ that He is Who He says He is and He, my friend, is alive!
Since my writing you letters from Israel, you are aware that I look for treasures and love it when God connects the dots for me. I took one tiny book with me on this trip and pried it open perhaps a time or two. But when I did, I read this. George MacDonald in his novel, Thomas Wingfold, Curate, writes this from Wingfold, “I would rather die for evermore believing as Jesus believed, than live for evermore believing as those that deny him.” (Buechner, The Remarkable Ordinary, pg. 118)
“The Fellowship that we share with Jesus Christ isn’t trapped up inside, but is found where He meets us, calls our name, picks us up, walks beside us, breaks bread with us.”
COVID must bow to the resurrected Jesus Christ.
Resurrection power over every circumstance.
It is done.
It is finished.
This virus cannot, will not be victorious.
There is only one Victor.
His Name is Jesus Christ.
Live in this truth today.
I need to live in this truth today.
Speak the Name of Jesus over your home.
Speak the Name of Jesus over those who are sick.
Speak the Name of Jesus over your city and community, leaders, and churches.
For you can be confident of this, He is speaking your name.
Come and see. For I see you.
a poem
(Facts shared come from the Scriptures and from the tour with Insight for Living Ministries. Imagination from my own heart.)