The Garden Tomb

Sorry about the delay. Church, class, sick kid, they start adding up!

The Garden Tomb was a wonderful way to conclude our first day of touring. It is not the actual tomb of Christ, apparently archeologists are sure the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher holds that distinction. What is great about the place -- it's really a private park run by a British christian organization -- is that it more fits the image western Christians have of what Golgotha and the tomb look like. It is a very quiet place of reflection, available free of charge by appointment only; a volunteer guide showed us around, giving us a brief history of the site. It was a beautiful place.

They led our group to a small venue with benches where we could take communion. They provided juice and matzo bread for the sacrament. The juice came in small olive wood cups for us to keep. We sat together and read the scripture of the Last Supper, then after the meal we sang some hymns and choruses (we were a choir group -- we sang A LOT).

It is always a wonder how and when God's spirit chooses to move. It was late in the day. We had already walked almost three miles through Jerusalem, most of which included stairs and hills. We were jet lagged from over 18 hours of travel the day before, some still suffering the affects of motion sickness. Many of us, Brenda and I included, fought off sleep as we tried to focus on the moment, forging our way through a haze of exhaustion. But it was then, at our weakest point, that God chose to move.

Several members of the group, including me, reported God speaking to their hearts about specific situations. Everyone was touched, most were in tears, feeling the joy of the Lord's presence. It was a sacred time. Our team went to the Holy Land with open and expectant hearts filled with a desire for a greater understanding of our Savior. Anytime Christ's servants humble themselves and truly seek Him with open hearts He will change lives. That is exactly what He started on that first day.

Next: What God spoke to me after communion.