Ancient Jerusalem Tomb

 

Behind the landmark King David Hotel, on a hill overlooking the Old City, is a first century BC tomb. Though Herod the Great is thought to have been buried at his fortress-palace called Herodium, authorities think this was the tomb of his family.

Herod was highly dysfunctional, to say the least. It did not seem to bother him to order murders, even if the victim was one of his wives. He was the Herod in power when Jesus was born and killing infants and children was not beneath him either (Matthew 2:16). In addition to his ruthlessness, the Jews did not like Herod because he was not a full blooded Jew, but an Idumaean.

Which of Herod's family was buried here we do not know. It is not even with complete certainty that we can state this is where they were laid to rest. But it is fascinating to see a grave so intact that dates to the time of Jesus.

Though the inside of the tomb has been made inaccessible to visitors, we could walk all around it. Steps descend to the door of the tomb. What I found so intriguing is the rolling stone that would have been used to close the entrance. It is big, thick, and carefully rounded. Producing it was certainly not an express project, but one that must have been time-consuming and costly.

I read that after a deceased person was placed in a tomb such as this, the stone would be rolled into place, covering the opening. Clay or wax was sometimes inserted between the stone and the wall to seal the grave. It was common for wealthy families such as Herod’s to be buried together in caves or sepulchers cut out of rock.

Jesus was probably placed in a similar tomb, but He did not stay there long! Though the chief priests and Pharisees, with Pilate's permission, "made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch," Jesus defied the grave (Matthew 27:57-28:15). The human methods of containing the dead could not contain Jesus, for he rose from the grave just as He'd said He would.

Now, as He was buried, so we are buried...not in a rock-hewn cave, but in baptism into death. And, as He rose from the dead, so do we rise to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-5). This ancient tomb provides much more than a peek into the past, but serves as a picture of the victorious life Jesus wants us to embrace!