THE GARDEN TOMB IN JERUSALEM

 

Video of Lakes Church Pastor Aaron Burgner sharing The Lord's Supper at The Garden Tomb

Inside the Empty Garden Tomb in 2000

Inside the Empty Garden Tomb in 2000

Inside the Empty Garden Tomb in 2022

The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem

          It is always such a moving experience to visit The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. Pastor Aaron Burgner shared The Lord’s Supper with the members of Lakes Church while we were there on our visit.  When do we most need comforting? When we are on a mountaintop, or when we are in the pits? Without question, God knows full well when we need him most. How could we ever forget that our Savior Himself was buried in a quarry?  When Joseph of Arimethea had taken Jesus' body down from the cross, he wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a "tomb cut in the rock." Had the story ended there, of course, there would be no comfort in Christ. The quarry of death would have held captive its prey, but the psalmist's words have meaning for us precisely because they had meaning for Jesus: "From the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again." By the ropes of his divine power, God lifted up "a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation" of his temple. By those same ropes of grace, God lifts us up from the bosom of his heart and give us new life, new hope, new vision for what he has called us to be. 

        The prophet Isaiah changes the metaphor so that not just Christ is hewn out and lifted up as the chief cornerstone, but we ourselves become hewn from him who is the Rock of Ages. "Listen to me," says Isaiah, "you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn. Is there a greater expression of hope and expectancy? "The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singling." Comfort. Compassion. Joy. Gladness. Thanksgiving. Singing. All from the depths of a heaven-like quarry. All from the immeasurable depth and breadth of the heart of an ineffable God.

        These photos and this beautiful watercolor painting of The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, Israel, reminds us of the mighty power and majesty of the resurrection of Christ, as explored in a word study of Ephesians 1:19-20 and the four different Greek words used in this Scripture for the resurrection power with which God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:19-20 NASB “What is the surpassing greatness of His ‘power’ toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the ‘working’ of the ‘strength’ of His ‘might’ which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
          Power (dunamis)—dynamic—it refers to intrinsic power. The gospel is dynamic, God’s dynamic, and so is powerful in the transformation of human lives. Dunamis is the same power that resides in believers because we are in Christ and He is in us.
          Working (energeia)—describes effectual working, efficiency or active, effective power. In this passage, energeia describes the active, energetic, productive power of God at work. Energeia describes God’s power in raising Christ, Paul instructs us that we have it.
          Strength (kratos)—refers to manifested power or power that is released, put forth in action. It is power to overcome what stands in the way. It is power which is able to overcome resistance. Kratos means strength or might, the power to rule or control, supreme authority, sovereignty.
          Might (ischus)—inherent power or force. A muscular man’s big muscles display his might, even if he doesn’t use them. It is the reserve of strength. Ischus conveys the sense of endowed power or ability. The idea is that it is the active efficacy of the might that is inherent in God, His indwelling strength. He is able!.
          As a believer, I know this is the same resurrection power that dwells in the innermost part of me, giving me strength to face every day’s challenges. This is encouraging to me, because it’s not my power, but the power of the Spirit of Christ Who dwells in the innermost part of me, the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead…Praise His Holy Name…the Lamb has overcome!
          The most powerful evangelism doesn’t take place within the four walls of a church building. It occurs as we share with others in our neighborhood and workplace the good news of what God has done for us individually and for the whole world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ask God to bring people across your path today who need to hear the good news that God saves and that he loves them. And then ask him for the compassion and courage to share the reason for your hope and to pray for those people. Nothing happens apart from the resurrection power of Jesus. Only Christ working in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God can produce a life that pleases the Lord. So let this prayer be the cry of your heart.
          Heavenly Father, strengthen and equip me with every good thing so that I can do your will. Prepare me for what you’re preparing for me. And open my heart wider to the working of your Spirit so that my life—inside and outside—will honor you. Produce in me, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to you. I rejoice over the resurrection of your precious Son! I won’t forget what He has done for me. You sent Him to earth and He was dishonored, but I pray that I will honor Him by remembering the cross. I will acknowledge His sacrifice and celebrate His resurrection. Thank you that He burst from the tomb to live inside us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen..

          Look Up—meditate on Ephesians 1:19-20 … pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on Ephesians 1:19-20 … pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on Ephesians 1:19-20 …pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

 * If you liked this post, you will LOVE this new book: "Memorable Moments in the Holy Land," available on Amazon at this link:  https://a.co/d/06G79jQm

Video of Lakes Church 2023 Holy Land Pilgramage