Israel - March 13, 2008
Welcome to our last blog entry and day number 8! We
slept in this morning (although the hotel accidentally sent
us a wake-up call!). We were to be at the bus at 10:15 AM
for a short drive to the Garden Tomb. This is the location
where I personally believe our Lord was crucified, buried,
and arose.
slept in this morning (although the hotel accidentally sent
us a wake-up call!). We were to be at the bus at 10:15 AM
for a short drive to the Garden Tomb. This is the location
where I personally believe our Lord was crucified, buried,
and arose.
The Garden Tomb is located on Mount Moriah, the same mountain where Abraham was willing to offer his son as a sacrifice in
obedience to God. Mount Moriah is one of the four hills that Jerusalem stands upon (Mounts Moriah, Zion, Calvary, and Bethesda). The
Garden Tomb is near Jerusalem where we know Jesus' trail took place, but it is also close enough so that our Lord could have walked to
it for His crucifixion. It is also outside the gates of Jerusalem which Scripture demands (Hebrews 13:12).
The area has an interesting history. The spot where the possible crucifixion was located is separated from the Temple by a valley. This
valley was created when Solomon cut into the mountain to make the stones to build the temple. It is also called Solomon's Quarry. After
the quarry was build, the valley was used for stoning. The victims were first thrown off the high edge onto the rocks below, then
boulders were rolled over on them. When the area was first being examined (1867), they found skulls and bones and were told the site
had been an ancient burial site.
Of course the predominate feature of the Garden Tomb is Skull Hill, that is the hillside that looks like the image of a skull. It is that
feature that first lead people to consider it as a possible site for our Lord's crucifixion.
Today, the Garden Tomb is a beautiful and enclosed garden area operated by what I believe is a British-based group. Groups are walked
through the garden to a seating area to share the story of how the tomb was found and why it is possible that this is indeed the place
where our Lord arose from the dead. From that area, you can see the two eyes sockets of a skull on the hillside, but they have built a bus
platform across the face of the hillside so that you can no longer see the mouth of the skull. The only way to see the entire face is to look
at a picture like the one on the left. A present day view, like the picture I took on the right, shows the eyes (they have wore some due to
erosion) but where the mouth should be, you only see the top of the bus parking area.
obedience to God. Mount Moriah is one of the four hills that Jerusalem stands upon (Mounts Moriah, Zion, Calvary, and Bethesda). The
Garden Tomb is near Jerusalem where we know Jesus' trail took place, but it is also close enough so that our Lord could have walked to
it for His crucifixion. It is also outside the gates of Jerusalem which Scripture demands (Hebrews 13:12).
The area has an interesting history. The spot where the possible crucifixion was located is separated from the Temple by a valley. This
valley was created when Solomon cut into the mountain to make the stones to build the temple. It is also called Solomon's Quarry. After
the quarry was build, the valley was used for stoning. The victims were first thrown off the high edge onto the rocks below, then
boulders were rolled over on them. When the area was first being examined (1867), they found skulls and bones and were told the site
had been an ancient burial site.
Of course the predominate feature of the Garden Tomb is Skull Hill, that is the hillside that looks like the image of a skull. It is that
feature that first lead people to consider it as a possible site for our Lord's crucifixion.
Today, the Garden Tomb is a beautiful and enclosed garden area operated by what I believe is a British-based group. Groups are walked
through the garden to a seating area to share the story of how the tomb was found and why it is possible that this is indeed the place
where our Lord arose from the dead. From that area, you can see the two eyes sockets of a skull on the hillside, but they have built a bus
platform across the face of the hillside so that you can no longer see the mouth of the skull. The only way to see the entire face is to look
at a picture like the one on the left. A present day view, like the picture I took on the right, shows the eyes (they have wore some due to
erosion) but where the mouth should be, you only see the top of the bus parking area.
Interestingly, our Garden Tomb guide, Anthony Keast, said that they had recently had the hillside surveyed and the surveyors said the
hillside would have looked much more like a skull in Jesus' day than it does now. The image of the skull on the hillside is why it is called
Skull Hill and also a strong indicator that this is the Biblical Golgotha, which means "The Place of the Skull" (Matthew 27:33).
The site was not discovered until around 1883 when a British soldier and Bible student looked out a friend's window from the city wall and
saw a hill that looked like a skull. He immediately recognized the possibility that this could be the hillside referred to in the Scripture, but it
would be 1894 before the land could be purchased and developed into a garden. A tomb was found early on which fueled the fires that this
site could be the site where Jesus was crucified and buried. That along with the skull-like appearance of the hillside made a compelling
argument for this spot's authenticity, but if it were the Lord's tomb, the other clues given in the Bible and history would also have to be met.
For example, it was the custom of the Romans to hang their crucified on a cross near a major road. This served as a warning to others of
Rome's wrath. Skill Hill, as it turned out, was on the major road which ran between Jerusalem and Jericho. In fact, Mr., Keast stated that the
cross would have been close enough to the road that Jesus would have been able to hear the conversations of those passing on it. Today, that
road is called Sultan Suleiman. We were also told that there was a flat place on the road near the hillside that was used for a market place in
Biblical days.
Even more important than historical clues are Biblical clues. John 19:41 tells us that in the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a
garden. Is there any indication that a garden existed in times past? The answer is yes. The first evidence in that discovery was of a cistern, in
fact, the third largest cistern in Jerusalem. The cistern holds 200,000 gallons of water and is only a few feet from the possible tomb of Jesus.
We were able to look down a stack into the cistern to see the reflection of the water.
hillside would have looked much more like a skull in Jesus' day than it does now. The image of the skull on the hillside is why it is called
Skull Hill and also a strong indicator that this is the Biblical Golgotha, which means "The Place of the Skull" (Matthew 27:33).
The site was not discovered until around 1883 when a British soldier and Bible student looked out a friend's window from the city wall and
saw a hill that looked like a skull. He immediately recognized the possibility that this could be the hillside referred to in the Scripture, but it
would be 1894 before the land could be purchased and developed into a garden. A tomb was found early on which fueled the fires that this
site could be the site where Jesus was crucified and buried. That along with the skull-like appearance of the hillside made a compelling
argument for this spot's authenticity, but if it were the Lord's tomb, the other clues given in the Bible and history would also have to be met.
For example, it was the custom of the Romans to hang their crucified on a cross near a major road. This served as a warning to others of
Rome's wrath. Skill Hill, as it turned out, was on the major road which ran between Jerusalem and Jericho. In fact, Mr., Keast stated that the
cross would have been close enough to the road that Jesus would have been able to hear the conversations of those passing on it. Today, that
road is called Sultan Suleiman. We were also told that there was a flat place on the road near the hillside that was used for a market place in
Biblical days.
Even more important than historical clues are Biblical clues. John 19:41 tells us that in the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a
garden. Is there any indication that a garden existed in times past? The answer is yes. The first evidence in that discovery was of a cistern, in
fact, the third largest cistern in Jerusalem. The cistern holds 200,000 gallons of water and is only a few feet from the possible tomb of Jesus.
We were able to look down a stack into the cistern to see the reflection of the water.
Then a very large winepress was found. The winepress is twice as
large as a normal size winepress, giving the indication that not only
was there a vineyard here, but it was be a large vineyard, probably
owned by a very rich individual. The Bible indicates that Joseph of
Arimathaea, the man who claimed Jesus' body from Pilate, would
have had to have been a wealthy man. He gave Jesus his tomb and
also provided 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes (no doubt very costly)
for Jesus' body to be prepared (John 19:38-40).
large as a normal size winepress, giving the indication that not only
was there a vineyard here, but it was be a large vineyard, probably
owned by a very rich individual. The Bible indicates that Joseph of
Arimathaea, the man who claimed Jesus' body from Pilate, would
have had to have been a wealthy man. He gave Jesus his tomb and
also provided 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes (no doubt very costly)
for Jesus' body to be prepared (John 19:38-40).
The tomb itself indicates that it might have been used by Jesus. The
tomb is not finished. It has only one portion of it completed. That is
very odd in that these tombs also had to hold all of the other family
members. That gives us the idea that it was a new tomb which, for
some reason, was never completely finished. Also, the place where
the body lay is smooth; but the place where the head lay has been
chipped out into the stone wall, as if the grave was prepared for one
person, then at the last minute, it had to have additional work done
on it for another. These and other indicators all provide some
evidence that this may well be the spot where our Lord lay. Let me
share some pictures of the actual tomb.
tomb is not finished. It has only one portion of it completed. That is
very odd in that these tombs also had to hold all of the other family
members. That gives us the idea that it was a new tomb which, for
some reason, was never completely finished. Also, the place where
the body lay is smooth; but the place where the head lay has been
chipped out into the stone wall, as if the grave was prepared for one
person, then at the last minute, it had to have additional work done
on it for another. These and other indicators all provide some
evidence that this may well be the spot where our Lord lay. Let me
share some pictures of the actual tomb.
The door opening has suffered damage due to an earthquake. The
blocks on the right had to be added to repair it. It is also taller than
original. The original opening would only have been about three
feet tall, which is about where the notch begins on the left-hand
side.
blocks on the right had to be added to repair it. It is also taller than
original. The original opening would only have been about three
feet tall, which is about where the notch begins on the left-hand
side.
The picture on the left is the place where the Lord may have laid. You can see the extra cutting made for the head at the top. The picture on the right
appears to be two more prepared but unused slaps. The remaining unfinished area is where I stood to take the picture, so it is not visible in these
pictures.
This was an amazing place to visit. It is one of the few natural sites in Jerusalem. As I have said, most every religious site has either a shrine or a
church built over it, but this is still a garden. It was quite and natural. In addition, Skull Hill and the Tomb both meet the Biblical qualifications for the
place of the crucifixion and the burial. After the Garden Tour guide explained the history, our group shared communion together and sang songs. Then
we leisurely walked over the area, praying and imagining how beautiful the events of the resurrection morning would have been in a garden something
like the one we were in.
From there, the Green Pond group walked into Old Jerusalem where we got lost and explored the city for about four hours before walking back to our
hotel and having a last dinner with our tour group. We were carried to the Seven Arches, a hotel on the top of the Mount of Olives, where we ate and
watched the sun go down on Israel.
I will try to share more with you when we return. Please pray for us. We get up in the morning at 4 AM, Israel time, (9 PM Green Pond time). We must
travel an hour to get to Tel Aviv and we must be at the airport three hours before our flight takes off at 10:15 AM (3:15 AM Green Pond time). We
should arrive in Birmingham around 9:45 PM on Thursday night (18 1/2 hours of actual travel time). God bless.
appears to be two more prepared but unused slaps. The remaining unfinished area is where I stood to take the picture, so it is not visible in these
pictures.
This was an amazing place to visit. It is one of the few natural sites in Jerusalem. As I have said, most every religious site has either a shrine or a
church built over it, but this is still a garden. It was quite and natural. In addition, Skull Hill and the Tomb both meet the Biblical qualifications for the
place of the crucifixion and the burial. After the Garden Tour guide explained the history, our group shared communion together and sang songs. Then
we leisurely walked over the area, praying and imagining how beautiful the events of the resurrection morning would have been in a garden something
like the one we were in.
From there, the Green Pond group walked into Old Jerusalem where we got lost and explored the city for about four hours before walking back to our
hotel and having a last dinner with our tour group. We were carried to the Seven Arches, a hotel on the top of the Mount of Olives, where we ate and
watched the sun go down on Israel.
I will try to share more with you when we return. Please pray for us. We get up in the morning at 4 AM, Israel time, (9 PM Green Pond time). We must
travel an hour to get to Tel Aviv and we must be at the airport three hours before our flight takes off at 10:15 AM (3:15 AM Green Pond time). We
should arrive in Birmingham around 9:45 PM on Thursday night (18 1/2 hours of actual travel time). God bless.