Where Was Jesus Buried?
Two Jerusalem Sites Make Claims on the Tomb of Christ
Although it's debatable where Jesus is buried, we know it was in Jerusalem. What's important to Christians is not where He was buried, but that the tomb was empty.
As Christians everywhere celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, their attention turns, again, to the events of Holy Week. Many even make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to see where Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the dead. But if you visit Jerusalem, you’ll find more than one tomb where it’s believed He was laid to rest before arising from the dead on Easter Sunday.
From scripture, there’s no doubt as to who buried Jesus, as it was Joseph of Arimathea. “When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed." (Matthew 27:57-60).
However, as to where Jesus was buried, there are two different sites that make claims to the tomb, each with supporting theories.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Standing on Calvary (where Jesus was crucified), the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is mostly believed by Catholics to be the place where Jesus was buried. They base their beliefs on a number of factors. A few include….
- The topographical components of the site are agreeable to Gospel accounts. For example, it’s recorded that Jesus was crucified on a rock resembling a skull outside the city (John 19:17). A grave was nearby (John 19:41-42).
- The area was not built over by local residents, although the spot was included within the city walls in 41-43 AD.
- According to historians Eusebius and Socrates Scholasticus, the Jerusalem Christian community conducted worship services there until 66 AD.
- The site was a vacant pit outside the city walls in the early 1st century AD. On the other hand, tombs (dated to the 1st centuries BC and AD) were cut into the west wall left by the quarrymen.
The Garden Tomb
On the other hand, Protestants (especially English Protestants) believe The Garden Tomb is the true site where Jesus was buried.
In 1884, British General Charles Gordon discovered a garden tomb one block from the Old City wall, contending this was where Jesus was buried. When Gordon noted a rock formation on a curious hillside, he found a rock-cut empty tomb nearby. Based on scripture, Gordon believed his discovery was the true tomb.
- According to scripture, a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pontius Pilate for Jesus’ body. Carrying it to a nearby garden, he then found an empty tomb, which had never been used and placed it inside. (Luke 23:50-53).
- “Carrying his own cross, he (Jesus) went out to the place of the Skull (“Golgotha” in Aramaic) (John 19:17).
- “At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and the garden is a new tomb, in which no one had been laid.” (John 19:41).
As for which site is the correct one, it remains debatable. In other words, you decide. However, one thing is for sure---it happened in the city of Jerusalem.
More significantly, for Christians it’s not important where He was buried. What is important is that according to Scripture, the tomb was empty. “But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:2-3). “He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6)
