Daily devotion – Friday 2nd July
After leaving our viewing platform just opposite the Golgotha site, we take a short walk back into the Garden Tomb location where we have been visiting in Jerusalem.
Many believe that this garden area, originally owned by a wealthy follower of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea. It was he and possibly Nicodemus who went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus that they could bury Him.
John 19:38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So, he came and took the body of Jesus.
Mat 27:60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed.
It is at the Garden Tomb location where we have the opportunity to walk into and examine what many believe to be the tomb in which Jesus body was placed.
It makes tremendous sense due to its close proximity to Golgotha. Therefore they would not have to carry Jesus crucified body a great distance. In addition, the location has all the requirements of being a wealthy man’s garden where also we find the stonework of what was nce a wine making cistern. All relate to a rich man’s residence.
You will remember when Mary that first Sunday morning came to the site and Jesus was there, she thought Him to be the gardener, the keeper of the paths, flowers etc that were present at the tomb of a rich man’s residence.
John 20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
Our tour group takes a special moment to each individually enter the empty tomb and take in what could have been the very place where Jesus body had been laid.
This is a moment worth the journey alone to Israel!
It was in the tomb that Jesus body lay until the stone was rolled away.
It has often been said that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out but instead to let His disciples in to see that He was risen!
Paul writes of Jesus resurrection – 1Co 15:55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory.”
Jesus Christ resurrection is the foundation of our faith.
Jesus said He would die and rise again from the grave – therefore every other word that He spoke, that we read in the Word of God, all the promises…are true!
We do not serve a memory, a martyr, or a legend, no, we serve the true and living God!