Stooping to See

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem has long been believed to sit over the tomb of Jesus. Its foundations rest over the remains of a first century quarry, garden, and cemetery of rock-hewn tombs.  On any given day, believers from all over the world come to see the empty tomb, singing, chanting, praying, and giving glory to God in the languages of Europe, the Americas, Asia, and everywhere in between. 

We visited the church and tomb a few years ago. To enter the tomb, we had to stoop low to enter the first room and see a portion of the stone that is believed to have sealed the tomb, the stone the angel once moved and sat upon. Then we stooped down once again to see and to touch the now empty slab that once held Jesus’ crucified body.

Stooping down is how the Gospels described the posture of the first visitors to the empty tomb.  

“Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.”

“Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.”

“Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.”

Each stooped to see into the tomb. They all stooped down to see that the tomb was empty.

Stooping, bending down was that first step to see, the first step to believe in the risen Savior.

The tomb they saw was empty. They didn’t expect it to be empty. But it was and still is.

“You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.”

Israel - Walking where Jesus walked 6/10/2017

One year ago today was a day focusing on Jesus.  We spent the morning in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent his last night in prayer and agony.  We spent time near the same olive trees that may been young saplings when Jesus was there. 

We looked over the Holy City where Jesus may have wept over Jerusalem, and where David may have, too, when he fled from Absalom.

We listened to the Lord's Prayer in Hebrew, then Latin, then all together in English.

We meditated on Psalm 88 in the dungeon where Jesus may have been held the night of his trial, and the nearby courtyard where Peter denied knowing Jesus.  We saw the Roman road that Jesus may have traveled down on the way to Caiphas and to Pilate.

We walked the path Jesus walked from his scourging and mocking to his death.  We saw and knelt and touched the rock that held his cross.  We stooped low to see a portion of the stone that sealed his tomb, and touched the now empty slab that once held his body.  We listened to the chants, songs, and prayers of his followers, and made friends with Italians, Greeks, Mexicans, French, and Peruvians who also came to honor our Lord.

Other places try to claim they have the correct location, but just don't have the history, archaeology, or tradition behind them.

But while all the places are interesting and quite moving, it isn't most important exactly where Jesus suffered, walked, prayed, was jailed, was beaten, died, or was buried.  Most important is that the tomb is empty, and our Lord has conquered death, is risen and lives!

"Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!" (Mark 16:6)