It is Empty, But Our Lives Are Not

There are some places you visit that you never forget.  One of those places for me is the Holy Land.   Though it has been 25 years since I was there, I still find meaning in that trip. Every now and then, I visit that place in my mind.  During the Lenten and Easter season, I go there often.    .  There are two sites around Jerusalem that are associated with the burial place of Jesus.   The first place is known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.   It dates back to the 4^th century when Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine  the first Christian monarch, came to Jerusalem in search of the place where Jesus was crucified and buried.   Thousands of pilgrims daily visit that site believing it is the site where Jesus died and was buried.

Not very far away in the same city of Jerusalem is a site known as The Garden Tomb.   It was discovered by a British archaeologist in the 1940’s named Gordon.  It is  better preserved than the Church of the Holy Sepulchre because it has not been a tourist site for many centuries.  Every day, thousands of people also visit that site believing that perhaps that is the place where Jesus was buried.  

The bottom line is that Biblical scholars do not know for certainty where Jesus was buried and there is no universal agreement on the question.   But the best news is this:  it makes no difference for Christians.   You see, followers of Christ Jesus are the Easter people.   We know the good news that (as the angel said at a tomb long ago)  “He is not here, for he is risen”.    There is no question that Christ Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem and the village of Israel long ago.  And for the Easter people, there is no doubt that Christ Jesus lives today!    The tomb is empty, but our lives are not.   Hallelujah, and amen!  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   Living and loving God,  we celebrate with joy that Christ not only rose from the dead long ago, but that he lives now.   Thank you for Easter and for the resurrection.  Help us to open our hearts to your presence in us and through us daily; through Christ our Lord. Amen.