The Garden Tomb

Our last place in Jerusalem was at the Garden Tomb, the other place where Jesus was supposedly buried and resurrected. The problem with this confusion is that some people interpreted that Jesus was buried and then risen at the Holy Sepulchre in the old city of Jerusalem, where the last few Stations of the Cross were, whereas some people believed he was brought to the Garden Tomb to be buried, and then resurrected. 

In any case, we were brought to both places, and personally, after reading the Bible, I would think the Garden Tomb is more plausible. Still, it is up to people which they like to believe, but as long as we believe that Jesus was indeed buried and risen, that is all that matters. Perhaps no one can ever know the exact tomb of Jesus despite all these speculations.

There are quite a lot of signs leading to and outside the entrance of the Garden Tomb. So one will never miss it. We started off the Garden Tomb with a little tour and then a brief overview of where the "Skull Mountain" is. Someone found a rock in the shape of a skull about a hundred years ago. Of course that mountain has now diminished since a bus terminus is now at the foot, but when it was discovered, there was just stones and empty land at the foot.

 Can you tell the skull in the mountain?

 See the bus terminus at the base?

 I am always intrigued by this fusion of religion - a church and a mosque side by side

After seeing the "Skull Mountain", we then went on to the "tomb" proper. It was very small inside, so only a few could go in at one time. Inside, we saw an empty "tomb", and the words in the doorway where "He is not here, for He has risen". How apt!

 Interior of the Tomb

After coming out from the "tomb", we went to one of the sections in the Garden for a communion service. My tour mates thought since Jesus was supposedly risen from here, it would be appropriate to partake of his flesh and blood.

 The communion table

We sang a couple of songs, then one of the tour leaders passed around the olive wood cup filled with grape juice (which we can keep as a souvenir), signifying Jesus' blood, as well as a piece of biscuit or bread signifying Jesus' body.

 The "body" and "blood" of Jesus Christ

The Garden Tomb is indeed a beautiful place. I can stay there the whole day and just relax, read, or give glory to God. If I come back to Israel again, the Garden Tomb is definitely a place I will go again!