The Garden Tomb That Housed Jesus

The Garden Tomb is believed by many to be the garden and sepulcher of Joseph of Arimathea and therefore a possible site of the resurrection of Jesus. The Garden is owned and administered by the Garden Tomb (Jerusalem) Association, a Christian non-denominational charitable trust based in the United Kingdom. Easter is only few days away, as Christians all over the world gear up for the celebrations, this article points searchlights on the place where Jesus was believed to be breathless for three days.

On Easter Sunday, millions of Christians around the world will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, thousands of Christian pilgrims visit what many believe to be the site of that resurrection.

Located near the heart of Jerusalem is a place called The Garden Tomb, what some believe was the Garden of Joseph of Arimathea. In some quarters, here is where Jesus died, was buried, and then rose from the dead.

The garden is a two acre oasis in the often hectic city of Jerusalem. British Christians bought the garden 125 years ago and formed The Garden Tomb Association. For years, they’ve allowed visitors here free of charge.

The Garden is a perfect representation of the Biblical accounts at the end of the four Gospels.

Touring the Garden

Today, nearly a quarter of a million visitors pour into The Garden Tomb each year.

What has been plotted out in the garden is the basic geography that we have in the Bible. Jesus was crucified outside of the city walls at a place called Golgotha (place of the skull). And in the immediate area to where Jesus was crucified there was a garden that belonged to a rich man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea.

The Garden is open for tours and worship services every Monday to Saturday from 08:30 to 17:30, although closed for lunch during the winter. Because the Garden is often busy, groups must book their visit in advance.

The Garden Tomb is a quiet place preserved for worship and reflection, with many places to sit and enjoy the surroundings and listen to groups from all over the world worship in their native tongue. Wheelchair access is good for a general tour of the Garden.

There is also a well-stocked gift shop with very reasonable prices.

The most asked question posed by people when they visit “The garden Tomb”, especially Christian groups would be; how come there are two places, here and there is the Holy Sepulcher?”

Weighing the Evidence

The question arises because some believe Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the actual place of the crucifixion and resurrection, not the Garden Tomb. Constantine’s mother Queen Helena helped build the church in 326 A.D.

The archeological weight supporting the church’s claim is substantial. For example, the Roman emperor Hadrian built a temple on the site in the second century because local Christians venerated the site as the place of Golgotha.

But the evidence for the Garden can be compelling. The gospel of John says, “… at the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden … ”  (John 19: 38; 41)

If you have a garden, you need lots of water, especially in the dry Middle East. The Garden Tomb contains one of the oldest and largest cisterns in Jerusalem. It’s 2,000 years old and holds about 200,000 gallons of water.

So the tomb we have here is a typical of a first century Jewish rolling stone tomb.

The Empty Tomb

In the Garden, the Bible also says there was a tomb carved out of solid rock. It’s a man-made tomb, and that’s how the Bible describes the tomb in which the body of Jesus was laid.

But whether The Garden Tomb or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the site of the resurrection of Jesus, many Christian pilgrims take with them a profound affirmation of their faith

Celebrating the Person

As people celebrate Easter, those at The Garden Tomb stress it’s not the place, it’s the person.

The Bible writers themselves were much more interested in Jesus Christ himself who he is. Why He died.

What is more important that people should take away when they visit The Garden Tomb is that the tomb is empty.

The Easter weekend is here! The weekend that Jesus died, was buried and rose again for me and for you; a time he reconciled God with Man.

Let’s celebrate resurrection!