Recently, I was given–no, I mean actually given–a trip to the Holy Land. My sister-in-law, Dixie, paid my way for the 10-day trip that our church took to Israel. I can’t tell you how excited I was to be given the opportunity to go see, touch, smell, experience…etc. the place where Jesus was born, grew up, and ultimately gave His life and rose again for me. I was told that it would change my life. That the Bible wouldn’t read the same anymore. That I would be different when I returned home. I was told, “Before you go, you read your Bible in black & white. After you return, you read your Bible in 4D technicolor.” “Yeah, I bet!” I would reply as I tried to figure out exactly how exaggerated these descriptions of how the trip would affect me were. I’m here now to say that they weren’t exaggerated. In fact, they weren’t complete! It really isn’t possible to put into words the deep, long-lasting impact that a trip like this has on you.

I’m not writing to promote the trip, though. I wanted to sit down and write about two of the places that had the deepest impact on me.

On day 7 of the trip, we were headed to the Garden of Gethsemane, our guide informed us that we would have 50 minutes by ourselves in the garden. They actually unlocked a gate, we entered, and they locked the gate behind us. We were able to sit alone in the garden and have some time of reflection. I walked in and found an olive tree to sit under and I just sat there for a minute. As I sat there looking across the Kidron Valley at Jerusalem. I thought about that night that Jesus kneeled alone in this very garden. I know that He could see Jerusalem from where He was–it is pretty hard to miss. I wished that I could sit there beside Him. I did’t have any idea of what I would say. I did’t believe I would feel the need to ask, “Why?” It would probably just be us sitting there in silence.
I then realized that I was sitting there beside Him. I was able to talk to Him–although I still didn’t know what to say. I did sit in silence for a little while just sensing His presence there with me. Then I thought about the verse in Isaiah (53:4) that says, “…he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…” I knew what I could say then to break the silence. I simply whispered, “Thank you. Thank you for bearing my griefs and carrying my sorrows. Thank you for that undeniable, unshakable, presence that I have felt during the darkest moments of my life.” After this, I had sweet fellowship with my Savior. I could have stayed in that garden much, much longer than the time allotted to me. Our group had a time of devotion and testimonies at the end of our time in the garden. We were all moved. We were all changed, collectively, in this place.

On day 10 of our trip, we visited the garden tomb. I didn’t feel goose bumps as I entered this place. I did’t have the hair on the back of my neck stand up. There was nothing mystical about the garden tomb.
I followed our guide over to the place of the skull and viewed the place where my Lord was crucified. I then followed him to the area where they discovered a winepress which definitively proves the location of a garden (why would you build a winepress outside of a garden and carry your grapes that much farther?). After this, we were lead over to the courtyard outside of the tomb. After a brief explanation, we were told that we could form a line and go into the tomb. I jumped up and went to the front of the line so I could get the picture you see attached to this article.
I went in with my phone recording a video of what I was seeing for the first time. I took some pictures and reflected for a brief moment and almost hurried out so I wouldn’t keep someone else from being able to go in. I then went to the back of the line so I could go in again. This time without my phone in my hand. I was going this time to have a minute, unhurried, in the tomb. As I stood in there, I thought of the words of the angel on that wonderful Easter morning, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6) I thought, “He really isn’t here.” **not that I had any doubt about the validity of the Lord’s resurrection** It’s just the fact that I am now an eyewitness to the fact that He isn’t there. I followed the instructions of the angel. I came and I saw the place where the Lord lay and He isn’t there.

As I stood in that tomb, I thought of a plot of ground back here in America. Specifically, a little plot of ground in the Kuna Cemetery. I go there from time to time to visit and to leave flowers. It is, in reality, a tomb where I go to remember a day and look forward to another day. I think about the day that I will get to see little McKinley’s face again.

My mind came back to me there in the garden tomb and it struck me. This is an empty tomb. I’m literally standing in a cave that has been carved out of a rock face where my Savior’s dead body laid AND where life came back into that dead body and He walked out alive and is alive still. The implications of this, the Bible says, are huge! Because this tomb is empty. Because He is not dead. Because He lives. Because of all of this, I know that the lifeless body in that little plot of ground in the Kuna Cemetery was only an earthly home for the sweet little girl that is more alive right now that I am. I walked out of that empty tomb with renewed strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

The time spent in Israel was truly life-changing. I know that I will never be the same again. My Bible reading is different. My prayer is different. I am different.

-Chad