July 13

It’s the weekend and I sure hope you have had a blessed week. We have blessed times often, don’t we? And then, we get those moments that simply take our breath away and leaves us speechless. Those moments we don’t get very often. Maybe once a month? Maybe a couple of times a year? Maybe just once every few years, right? I think one reason I was so overwhelmed with the Holy Land is that I went around in a perpetual state of breathlessness. It has taken getting back to “real life” to sift through and contemplate the significance of each place. 

One place we went that is probably not “the place” was the Garden Tomb. It wasn’t discovered until 1867 and predates Christ by several hundred years. (It wasn’t unusual to reuse tombs in those days, but Jesus was laid in an unused, new tomb that Joseph of Arimathea had built for his family.) However, it is a beautiful setting and looks very much like it would have looked.

The wonderful thing about the Garden Tomb is the surroundings. It sits in a beautiful garden and provides places to pray together and take communion together. After a week of seeing so very many places that I had read about my whole life and being overcome with emotion, this was a perfect place of reflection. We were able to step inside the tomb and think about what it might have looked like that Easter morning so many years ago. We could picture the angels sitting on either side of the bench, much like the top of the ark of the covenant. 

We gathered together for a time of worship and the Lord’s Table and were reminded once again that wherever that tomb might be—here in this garden or in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or somewhere altogether different—our Lord is not there. He only used that cave for 3 days and then, he was finished with it. 

“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.” Luke‬ ‭24:2-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And the greatest thing about it all, He promises that He would be back to get us. If we can trust the fact that He conquered death and the grave, then we can surely trust that He will return. 

““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”” Acts‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And that my dear friend, is a day we can all eagerly anticipate. It’s a thought that comforts and encourages us and brings a steadfastness to our walk. 

Lord we long for your return and we pray “Come quickly Jesus.” We thank you for the assurance of our salvation and for the comfort of your grace. Thank you for the blessed Holy Spirit that resides with each of us and thank you for blessing us with moments when you are so real to us we can almost touch you. Those are the moments that solidify our faith and help us to be unmovable. Bless today those who are dealing with severe illness and pain. Wrap your loving arms around them and let them feel you near. We love you and we praise you holy name. Hallelujah to the Lamb. Amen and amen. 

Love you dear one, 

Pam