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I visited Israel as a tourist several years ago. Our tour guide took us to many of the historical sites of the area. She told us that there were three categories of authenticity to each of the sites. They were a probability, a possibility, or "proposterousability" meaning that this is most likely the original site, or it fits some of the details that would make it the site or it was ridiculous that it was even considered as the place it was suppose to represent.
We were taken to two different locations for the tomb of Christ. One was the location shared by the Roman, Eastern, and other orthodox churches inside a church. We stood in line and looked down from the top of a site at what was suppose to be Calvary and then ushered a few feet away to what was said to be the empty tomb guarded by a priest. Later we were bussed to what the Protestant churches regard as Calvary and next to it a garden with a tomb discovered in the 1800s. Again we were ushered into line and allowed to look and linger in the tomb. I have a picture of the place that the guide told us was the place where Jesus was laid and is now empty. We were left to draw our own conclusion as to which was in the "probability" category.
I have my own opinion, but my conclusion of resurrection faith is not based on either of the two tombs. My faith is the fact that the Bible says that Jesus died, descended to Hell, preached the truth, and was resurrected after three days. "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe" (St. Augustine). My faith is not in a place, but in an event of spiritual importance and hope!
We were taken to two different locations for the tomb of Christ. One was the location shared by the Roman, Eastern, and other orthodox churches inside a church. We stood in line and looked down from the top of a site at what was suppose to be Calvary and then ushered a few feet away to what was said to be the empty tomb guarded by a priest. Later we were bussed to what the Protestant churches regard as Calvary and next to it a garden with a tomb discovered in the 1800s. Again we were ushered into line and allowed to look and linger in the tomb. I have a picture of the place that the guide told us was the place where Jesus was laid and is now empty. We were left to draw our own conclusion as to which was in the "probability" category.
I have my own opinion, but my conclusion of resurrection faith is not based on either of the two tombs. My faith is the fact that the Bible says that Jesus died, descended to Hell, preached the truth, and was resurrected after three days. "Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe" (St. Augustine). My faith is not in a place, but in an event of spiritual importance and hope!
