The gospel stories culminate with the resurrection of Jesus. Luke's gospel records the angel telling those visiting the tomb "he is not here". The Bible story then goes on to describe Jesus' disciples going out filled with the Holy Spirit doing all kinds of mind blowing stuff. They didn't seem all that concerned with commemorating the spots where Jesus died and rose again. Presumably they had more pressing things to do!
We visited a few sites in Jerusalem which seek to convince us that x, y or z happened there - with varying degrees of evidence for their claims. The next level are the claims which simply cannot be true. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (which is said to stand over the place where Jesus was crucified and buried) has a slab which is venerated as the stone where Jesus' body was laid and we saw a number of people who seemed to be seeking some special intervention from this slab. Sadly I'm told the slab was only put in place in 1810 and there's nothing to suggest that it was put in place because it was in fact the slab where Jesus' body was placed. It seems to show that we like the tangible even though the message is more exciting: he's not here! The fact of his absence from the tomb demonstrates something much more significant.
Symbols can be helpful (as The Garden Tomb - the Protestant rival to the Holy Sepulchre - leaflet reminded us). Jerusalem is great - it brings some things to life, but the real message remains: he's not here!
We visited a few sites in Jerusalem which seek to convince us that x, y or z happened there - with varying degrees of evidence for their claims. The next level are the claims which simply cannot be true. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (which is said to stand over the place where Jesus was crucified and buried) has a slab which is venerated as the stone where Jesus' body was laid and we saw a number of people who seemed to be seeking some special intervention from this slab. Sadly I'm told the slab was only put in place in 1810 and there's nothing to suggest that it was put in place because it was in fact the slab where Jesus' body was placed. It seems to show that we like the tangible even though the message is more exciting: he's not here! The fact of his absence from the tomb demonstrates something much more significant.
Symbols can be helpful (as The Garden Tomb - the Protestant rival to the Holy Sepulchre - leaflet reminded us). Jerusalem is great - it brings some things to life, but the real message remains: he's not here!
great post rich, thanks. J.
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