A Journey Between Jerusalem’s Two Tombs of Jesus: Unveiling the Sacred Mystery (Zahi Shaked)

Information about the Jerusalem’s Two Tombs of Jesus itself will be provided after this announcement. Unfortunately, I have not been able to work as a tour guide because of the war (Gabriel Hart).

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Zahi Shaked

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TFor most Christian travelers in Jerusalem, and especially the ‘first-timers’, the place of Jesus’s death and resurrection is at the top of their list. Almost everyone wants to go to “the spot” to pray and put themselves in the shoes of a 1st century disciple.

Ironically, this is not exactly an easy task. There are very few locations in Israel where everyone agrees “this is the exact spot” where a particular biblical event happened. Crucifixion and burial of Jesus is no different.

Holy Sepulchre – History and Background
Considered to be the traditional location of the crucifixion and the tomb, this location is hard to imagine in Biblical days. Mainly because it is now “inside” a large stone church.

Nevertheless, church tradition says that early believers met at this location as early as the mid first century to pray and worship.

The Romans destroyed Jerusalem at the end of the 1st century. There is evidence that in early 2nd century the Romans built a pagan temple at this location, dedicated to Greek gods.

This fact is fascinating and important to consider. Because when the Romans would conquer a city or region, they would build temples at locally significant spiritual or religious locations. They did it to stamp out local religious traditions with the intent of assimilating the population to Roman culture.

However, there is no record of a significant historical Jewish site of worship at this spot. Something of local and spiritual significance must have happened here that caused the Romans to build a pagan temple.

Search for the Hill and the Tomb
Later in the 4th Century, Constantine’s mother Helena, came looking for “the spot”. In result, she ordered to build a church around this location. While there is much dispute about her mission and intent, a common 4th century Byzantine style church was built here in the shape of a cross.

Builders would construct the building in a traditional style. This means they would place the most significant relic or treasure of the church at the head of the cross.

Through the centuries, the church has been destroyed, rebuilt and redesigned several times. Yet, if you know where to look in this church today, you can find a room that is centuries older than the rest of the construction.

Leave the crowds in the large rotunda and step thru an archway. You will enter a small room where the head of that cross in the early Byzantine design stood. Inside, you will find a wealthy family tomb, chiseled out of the rock, that has been dated to the 1st century.

Garden Tomb – History and Background
The popular evangelical choice, The Garden Tomb is a beautiful spot. Relatively recently discovered, in comparison to the ancient church, this location was discovered by a British General in 1842. But it was first spotted by Greek landowners looking for water.

The Garden Tomb does have some compelling aspects. Archeology has confirmed it was an ancient garden for more than just flowers. A well, an underground cistern and a wine press dating to the 2nd temple period were all found here.

Nearby, there is a sizable family tomb, chiseled out of the bedrock. Inside the tomb there are crosses found dating to the Byzantine period.

Not far from here there is an overlook, although crumbling today, where visitors can notice a rock ledge. Many say it looks like a face or a skull – perhaps marking “the place of the skull” that the Scriptures spoke of.