Ruth
My husband and I volunteered for eight weeks at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem before the pandemic. The Garden Tomb, tucked away just outside the old city walls of Jerusalem, is revered by many as the site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. During our time there, every morning as sunlight filtered through olive branches and birds flitted above ancient stones, I found myself immersed not only in history, but in the heartbeat of Christian faith.
At the very heart of the Garden Tomb is the Christian belief that, on the third day, Jesus rose from the grave. As a volunteer, I witnessed countless visitors from every continent contemplating this fact. To stand in a space that many believe witnessed the single most transformative event in human history is a humbling experience. It’s a reminder that resurrection is the living hope of believers across generations and cultures.
One detail that captivated me was the small window carved into the tomb’s stone wall. In ancient Jewish tradition, such a window was often placed in a tomb to allow the soul to leave.
The story of Lazarus, another resurrection with its own unique details, came alive when I looked at the small opening on the stone wall. Recorded in the Gospel of John, Lazarus was in the tomb for four days before Christ called him out. In ancient times, the fourth day was significant, as it was believed that the spirit had left the tomb by then, making resurrection even more miraculous. As I walked among those ancient stones in Jerusalem, I found new resonance: Jesus commands life not only over death, but over hopelessness, over finality, over the “impossible.”
Our weeks at the Garden Tomb were weeks of service—greeting pilgrims, tending gardens, taking care of the gift shop. Yet they were also weeks of encounter. The history, the passion, the small window in the stone, all became part of my faith journey. In that quiet garden, I learned more about faith, hope, and the enduring possibility of new beginnings.
As the world continues to seek healing and restoration, the empty tomb and its small, hope-filled window remind me daily: the story is not over.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
Do you believe this?
