I was really humbled at the tomb. You can sit outside and just reflect or pray. But you may also enter the tomb. I was surprised to see how small it was inside. I tought it would've been bigger then it was. I mean the place where Jesus' body would have been laid.
The Garden Tomb
In the 19th century, scholars began to challenge the Christian tradition that put the site of Jesus’s burial and resurrection at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City’s Christian Quarter. Many Protestants also had their doubts – in large part because the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was the site sanctioned by the Roman Catholic establishment.
It was Major General Charles Gordon, a British officer and administrator, who picked up the gauntlet and began searching for an alternative site. In 1883, Gordon found a rocky escarpment near Damascus Gate. The fact that the escarpment resembled a skull suggested to Gordon that he had stumbled upon the true Golgotha, which may have been derived from the Hebrew and Aramaic for ‘skull.’ He also concluded that one of several tombs uncovered nearby in 1869 had to be the tomb of Jesus. John the Evangelist specifies that the tomb was located in a garden, and the site identified by Gordon contained an ancient cistern and a wine press; hence the name Garden Tomb (it’s also known as Gordon’s Calvary).
Despite the fact that archaeologists (not to mention the Catholic Church) have yet to embrace the Garden Tomb as the site of Jesus’ burial, the spot has become a popular Protestant place of pilgrimage. It is a quiet place, perfect for prayer and reflection.
Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, by Noam Chen
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 2367 traveler reviews“Nice overall but true significance was overlooked”
Wonderful tour and place but guides were not convicted that this indeed was the place where Jesus died and was buried. Several issues: The ground of Jesus’ day was actually about 10 to 20 feet below present day levels so unless the tomb access was by ladder, I find it doubtful that this was...
MoreWonderful tour and place but guides were not convicted that this indeed was the place where Jesus died and was buried. Several issues: The ground of Jesus’ day was actually about 10 to 20 feet below present day levels so unless the tomb access was by ladder, I find it doubtful that this was indeed the tomb. I do believe that the location is right along the cliff face, it’s just that it still remains buried below the tomb that is there. Some scholars suggest that this is a newer tomb dating to a few hundred years AD. Also, I asked about an ancient couple of chiseled niches that can be seen around knee level on a platform halfway to the golgotha viewing platform. I asked if they could have been made to hold the signs that announced Jesus’ crime. But I did not get any satisfactory answer. This would be significant because if that was the case, then excavating down to the bedrock of Jesus’ time would reveal at least three cross holes and we would be standing over the exact spot of the most significant event in history! When I asked about the crack running down the cliff face and into the ground below us and if there was any significance to that, I was met with seeming indifference. Through years of research, I am convinced that there must be some significance to Matthews account of the “earth quaked and the rocks were rent” at the moment of Jesus’ death. I always wondered what happened to all His precious blood. Did it just pool on the ground, or did it have the greater purpose to “anoint the most holy” (Dan 9:24)? After all, Jesus said He would fulfill every jot and tittle of the law and would not fulfilling Leviticus 16:17 be paramount? When the blood was sprinkled on the ark, that was the moment that sins were forgiven in the OT. So that would unravel the greatest mystery of all time...what happened to the ark of the covenant? Seems to me that it would have to be buried right underneath the cross of Christ, and the earthquake provided the pathway for the blood and water to end up exactly where it had to be. Sounds like an awesome plan of God would you not agree? Can you imagine that the Israeli Rabbis would not know this? After all, plans for the 3rd temple are complete and when it is finally built, the ark will be brought into it. Since the real ark is in heaven, would this not qualify as the Abomination of Desolation?! I think the Garden Tomb Association is either afraid of being truthfully candid or they have been ordered not to pursue the truth and just to be happy to have tourists visit there.
Less“"He Is Risen!”
Interesting site claiming to be the actual location of the Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Within close proximity is "Golgotha" (Aramaic for Skull), bearing a resemblance to a skull on the face of a hill, which now unfortunately stands above a bus station. In 1842 Otto Thenius, a German Scholar, ...
MoreInteresting site claiming to be the actual location of the Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Within close proximity is "Golgotha" (Aramaic for Skull), bearing a resemblance to a skull on the face of a hill, which now unfortunately stands above a bus station. In 1842 Otto Thenius, a German Scholar, felt for numerous reasons that this was perhaps the true location as opposed to the traditional Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Having visited twice over the years, my first impression left me believing that this was the sacred location, yet upon my second visit, I felt that the traditional site designated in the 4th century under Emperor Constantine might likely be so. You must visit both locations, which will leave you with deep spiritual insights at each. The tomb is an extremely moving experience, and what is written as you leave the tomb which is carved into stone, will put a smile upon your face. The gardens are lovely and the perfect spot for prayer and Scriptural reading. Definitely make the visit.
Less“The Garden tomb is Beautiful”