Today we are reading Matthew 27. In this chapter we read about the trial and Crucifixion and death of Jesus. We also learn about the details of His burial. “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.” Matthew 27:57-61 ESV In Israel there are two possible locations for the burial of Jesus. One, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, is surrounded by religious items and with a large church. It looks nothing like the site mentioned in the Bible. The other, The Garden Tomb, looks like what is described in Matthew 27. The first has an abundance of evidence supporting the claim as the site. The other simply looks like what you would expect. The truth is the empty tomb is only important because it is empty. What we should focus our faith on is the one who briefly occupied the tomb but COULD NOT BE CONTAINED BY IT! By His resurrection and victory over death Jesus gives us hope and comfort as we reflect on the death of our loved ones and their joy in Heaven. May the empty tomb fill you with joy. Pastor Tim
