By Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

Some friends of mine recently returned from a trip to Israel.  They were on a tour that included many of the places mentioned in the Bible.  They saw the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized; the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus’ disciples fished; and the Mediterranean Sea, where the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome.  They also saw cities and towns like Bethlehem, where Jesus was born; Nazareth, where Jesus grew up; and Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified.  Although archeologists may not be able to identify some of the specific sites mentioned in the Bible, they can confirm that many of the cities and places mentioned in the Bible still exist today.

My friends shared that one of their favorite places to visit was the garden tomb where Jesus may have been buried after his crucifixion by the Roman authorities.  This beautiful garden is located just outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem.

Historians and archeologists cannot say this is definitely the location where Jesus was buried, but it certainly could be.  The garden and the tomb are located close together.  There is a hill that looks like the one described in the Bible.  It could be the location referred to in the various Bible accounts.

Many people don’t understand why the burial place of Jesus is so important.  There are cemeteries in countries all over the world where loved ones and friends are buried.  Why is the place where Jesus was buried any different?

The Bible says that Jesus rose from the dead three days after he was executed on the Cross.  This makes his death different from any other in history.  The Bible says that many people saw him alive.  Eyewitnesses claimed that they saw him, talked with him, and actually touched him.

The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus’ death on the Cross and his physical resurrection are the foundations of the Christian faith.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead, our faith is worthless and we are misleading others.  If Jesus did rise from the dead, then our faith is true and we have hope for the future and purpose in this life, (I Corinthians 15:1-20).

Let me encourage you to read it for yourself.  Dust off your Bible and read one of the accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection in Matthew, Chapters 27-28; Mark 15-16; Luke 23-24; and John 19-20.  Each of them provides the names of individuals who claim to have seen Jesus alive after his death on the Cross.  Each of these passages provides specific eyewitness details about Jesus death, burial and resurrection.

On Easter Sunday, I hope you will attend a church near you.  Easter is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  Easter reminds us that we do not remember a fallen hero, but a living savior.  Easter reminds us that the tomb is empty.  Jesus is alive!

Join us for Good Friday Service at 7 p.m., and Easter Sunday Services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Ave. Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit http://www.efreedb.org.