Garden Tomb
In celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this Easter Sunday – THE GARDEN TOMB & Resurrection Garden; GOLGOTHA
A beautiful & peaceful garden shielded by buildings and a steep escarpment from the noisy and vigorous city all around. Located a short block north of the Damascus Gate on the Nablus road, was discovered in 1895 by General Gordon while walking along the old city wall. General Gordon first noticed the distinctive skull features of Golgotha, the garden was subsequently discovered. A large in-ground water cistern and a wine press have also been found. These items suggest the ancient use of this property as a garden. Inside the area, is a chiseled-out tomb. Jewish tombs were often composed of two chambers; the first served as a vestibule, and in it the relatives congregated to mourn for the dead; in the second, on a shelf cut into the rock, the corpse was laid. The entrance to the monument was closed by a round massive slab, like a millstone, which rolled in a grove.
• Jesus was buried in a garden (Matt. 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:41-42)
• Jesus’ tomb was guarded (Matt 27:62-66)
• “Who shall roll us away the stone….?” (Mark 16:3-4)
• Mary Magdalene saw the resurrected Christ in the garden (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18)
• Peter and John raced to the garden (Luke 24:12; John 20:1-4)
• Jesus was resurrected (Matt. 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18)
• Nephi prophesied Jesus’ entombment (2 Nephi 25:13)
• Jesus was resurrected (2 Nephi 25:13; Ether 12:7; D&C 20:23)
In this garden, the Jerusalem Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in September 1972 by President Harold B. Lee, with David B. Galbraith as the first president of the branch. Of his visit to the Garden Tomb, President Lee said, “something seemed to impress us as we stood there that this was the holiest place of all, and we fancied we could have witnessed the dramatic scene that took place there” (The Ensign, April 1972, p. 6). [DWB p. 62.]
Today, the site is owned and operated by an association group of churches from Britain. The land was purchased “that it might be kept sacred as a quiet spot.” Since then, the Garden Tomb Association has been proclaiming the very heart of the Christian faith, the dying and living of the Lord Jesus Christ. A door has been hung in recent years at the entrance to the tomb and carries a sign inscribed with a verse from the Bible that touches the heart of Christ’s Gospel: He is not here, for He is risen…
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