I had intended to publish this article Eater morning, but here I am not able to finish it until the night of. Nonetheless, better late than never, right?

A few years ago, I was in Jerusalem and had the opportunity to visit what is believed to be the tomb they laid Jesus in. Honestly, it is nothing extravagant. Those who own the land and run this historical and religious site have built a beautiful garden around this tomb, spacious, covered with flowers, and shaded with luscious green trees. Truly a marvel. The tomb itself is a small cave cut into the side of a short cliff just large enough to fit a couple of bodies in. It was cool, a little damp, and empty. They say that even if it wasn’t the exact tomb Jesus was laid in, though there is good reason to believe it is, he would have been put to rest in a tomb similar to this one.

As we were waiting in line to enter the tomb, there was an African American church group on a holy land trip waiting in front of us. As we approached the line to enter and get a glimpse of where our savior lied, the air was filled with murmurs about the garden we were standing in, the story of Christ’s Passion, and possibly some complaints about the heat as the cool of the morning was wearing off. The first couple of ladies went in and after a minute or so one lady joyously ran back out yelling with the excitement and energy easily found in any black congregation, “He ain’t in there! He ain’t in there.”

The whole area erupted in cheers and praise as we excitedly praised our risen savior. Though we were at the empty tomb, that is not really what we came to see. As someone who loves history and loves visiting even the most minor historical sites, I realized what I was looking at was truly a mundane sight… an empty tomb.

After a few minutes, and many shouts of praise, my father and I entered the tomb together, looked around for a minute, and realized what many others before us had. There was nothing to see here, just as the women and the disciples saw that glorious morning:

⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Matthew 28:9-7 – ESV

⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. ⁶ And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:5-6 – ESV

⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,

¹² But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Luke 24:5-6 & 12 – ESV

³ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’^[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

John 20:3-9 – ESV

As I left the empty tomb I stepped back into the light and was greeted by the beauty of the garden planted outside. Truly, what was outside of the tomb was more beautiful and awe-inspiring than anything inside. As I stepped out, I looked to my brothers and sisters and said just as everyone before me had, “He ain’t in there.”

This truly was a spiritual moment I will never forget. I went that morning to this religious site to get a picture of what possibly could be Jesus’ tomb, but I came out with the realization that it is the resurrection of Christ that I came to be reminded of. Oh, how wonderful it is that I did not stay in that tomb! If I had, I would not have seen the beauty of the garden in a new light or been surrounded by the praises of God from my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Oh, how wonderful it is that He did not stay in the tomb 2000 years ago! If so, we would never have been able to walk out of our own graves! It is by the power of His resurrection that I was able to walk out of my own tomb into His marvelous light. Though it was years ago, that woman’s proclamation rings true in my memory every Easter, He ain’t there! He is risen!

I do believe I took a picture of the tomb that day I could post here, but honestly, I don’t want to look it up. It is just a picture of an empty tomb after all.