During my trip to Israel in 2017, our group visited both the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. Both sites claim the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection as their own. While the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has nearly 2000 years tradition as well as historical and archeological evidence to support its claim, the site of the Garden Tomb does not really have anything to defend itself with.
However, the MESSAGE of these two very different sites it not WHAT IS THERE but WHO IS NOT THERE.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:5-6, New International Version).
On this Easter and Resurrection Sunday, let us not get so caught up in historical and/or theological debates that we forget the MESSAGE of the empty tomb and risen savior.
Happy Easter and Resurrection Sunday, everyone!
Nick Chellsen 