Jerusalem: The Garden Tomb

The probable location of Golgotha, or Skull Hill.  The current location of a bus station, and on top of the hill; an Arab Cemetery.  I was amazed to find how close this was to Jesus Christ's burial tomb.  It fits the description mentioned in the scriptures of being outside the walls of the city and near a road.  This hill was easily seen by those travelling on the road to Damascus, I believe. 

This is what it looked like about 100 years ago.  

Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret desciple of Christ and also a member of the Sanhedrin, or a senetor.  He was very weathly and had a garden outside the walls of the city. In John 19:41 it says "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid." laid Jesus "in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock" (Matthew 27:60)

I was amazed at how close the tomb was to Golgotha.  This was the most incredible place to be.  We were blessed to have almost the whole place to ourselves.  It was very quiet and wonderfully peaceful. 

He lives!

Almost immediately after we went to the Garden Tomb we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  This is the site that the Catholic Church believes to be the site of Golgotha and the tomb. 

I couldn't believe the stark difference between here and the Garden Tomb we had just left.  This Basilica was filled with people, it was huge, and extremely ornate. 

Not only the way it looked, but just the overall feeling was different, to me. 

Apparently the LDS Church has not outwardly said either place to be of validity, and I have learned that it really doesn't matter.  In my personal opinion, the Garden Tomb seemed to be a legitimate location, but if not, it couldn't matter less to me.  It is important to me to know what happened, not where it happened.  Christ atoned for our sins, was crucified, died, and rose again in all glory, reunited with his body.  He was the only one who could save us from our sins, and how eternally grateful am I that He went through it all. 

I could appreciate this church for the mere incredible architecture.