The events of the arrest, crucifixion, and death of Jesus are remembered mainly by Christians when they think of what he had to go through to make them righteous again. After he died, Jesus’ body was taken away and buried. This has led many Bible readers to wonder, “where is Jesus’ tomb?”
We know that Jesus’s tomb is in Jerusalem because that is where he was buried. However, there are some contradictions concerning the exact place Jesus was buried, as several Christian denominations have yet to agree on one place. While others say that Jesus’ tomb is at Garden Tomb, others have insisted that Jesus’ tomb is at Holy Sepulchre. Both religious scholars and archaeologists have given ‘enough’ evidence on each location, leading to the belief that each place carries a high possibility of where Jesus’ tomb was.
So, does the Bible mention where Jesus was buried? Where in Jerusalem was Jesus buried? Whose tomb was Jesus buried in? What did Jesus’ tomb look like? Where is Jesus’ tomb located today? Can people visit Jesus’ tomb today? Read on to learn the answers to these questions.
Does the bible mention where Jesus was buried?
Jesus was buried in Jerusalem, in a garden. At the time of Jesus’ death, the Jewish were usually buried outside the city walls, where he was buried. Although the Bible does not specify the exact location Jesus was buried, many Christian denominations have been torn between the Church of Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb as the place where Jesus was buried.
Where in Jerusalem was Jesus buried?
The book of John explains that Jesus was buried in a garden, a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. According to this book, that was the only tomb near where Jesus had been crucified, and Joseph chose it because it was the Jewish day of preparation, and Jesus had to be buried before dawn.
John 19:40-42 says, “Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden, a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there”.
Whose tomb was Jesus buried in?
Most bible scholars and theologians have agreed that Jesus was buried in Joseph’s tomb. However, out of the four gospel books that talk about the burial of Jesus, Mathew is the only Gospel that states that the tomb in which Jesus was buried belonged to Joseph.
Mathew 27:57-60 says, “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away”.
From the above scripture, it is clear that Joseph intentionally buried Jesus in his tomb, not because it was the most convenient one. As we read on in the book of John, we see that Joseph only buried Jesus in the Garden tomb because it was the only tomb near where Jesus had been buried, raising a bit of confusion.
John 19:41-42 says, “At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
What did Jesus’ tomb look like?
Jesus’ tomb can be described as rock-like. During his time, wealthy Jews used to bury their people in a well-cut-out rock (rock-cut tomb) with several burial chambers. Jesus was buried in this same tomb, as the man who took his body was of a wealthy background, as Mathew 27:57 records; “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had become a disciple of Jesus.”
This tomb was considered expensive, as it was hard to create, often out of bedrock. As a result, these tombs were created in a unique way, such that they consisted of one or more burial chambers. There was usually a tiny opening at the entrance of the bedrock, which acted as the main entrance. A few chambers will then be seen inside the rock, and each was lined with rock-cut benches along three sides on which the dead were laid.
A pit was usually carved right below one of the benches and was used as storage for those buried earlier. Although it was expensive to make these kinds of tombs, it was convenient as a person’s bones would be collected from where they had been laid, and a new body would be placed there as the bones would be stored in what they called a ‘repository.’
Where is Jesus’ tomb located today?
The exact location of Jesus’ tomb is unclear, as the Bible did not specify. However, different Christian denominations have been torn between the Garden Tomb and the Church of Holy Sepulchre. Let us go into detail on why some Protestants think the Garden Tomb is where Jesus’ tomb lies.
The book of John records that Jesus was buried in a new tomb in a garden. Additionally, the Garden tomb is located outside the city walls of Jerusalem, giving it a possibility of where Jesus was crucified, buried, and even resurrected.
While many Christians believe that the Garden Tomb is where Jesus was buried, modern archaeologists determined that this tomb existed a few years before Jesus died, meaning that it was not new and had been previously used. In the Bible, the four gospels clearly state that the tomb Jesus was buried in was new, raising many concerns about the Garden temple as the exact spot where Jesus was buried.
There is some controversy surrounding the Holy Sepulchre as the place where Jesus’ tomb is located. First, many scholars have argued that the founder of this place, Constantine Helena, ‘s findings were not to be trusted, as most of her biblical locations were based on what only she felt was right.
Additionally, the Holy Sepulchre has been regarded to be not the place Jesus was buried because of the conflict surrounding the whole environment. For instance, the Church that surrounds the supposedly Jesus’ tomb is not owned by one church denomination but by various of them, including the Roman Catholic church, the Orthodox, the Armenians, and the Syrian-Jacobites. Due to this, the one in charge of the Church is a Muslim family, as the churches have yet to reach an agreement, portraying an awful picture.
Can people visit Jesus’ tomb today?
Tourists and local people can visit the Garden Tomb and the Church of Holy Sepulchre. However, the big questions remain on which of these two tombs is the actual tomb that Jesus was buried in. this should not matter that much to Christians, and Jesus already rose and sits in heaven, waiting for His bride, the Church.
References
- Jesus buried in Joseph’s tomb
- Do we know where Jesus was buried?
- The tomb of Jesus is restored in Jerusalem.
- Where is the Tomb of Jesus? Holy Sepulchre vs. Garden Tomb
- What did Jesus’ Tomb look like?
- Where was Jesus buried on Good Friday?
- Are there still guards over Jesus’ tomb? Can people go into the actual tomb where he was buried?
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
