Golgotha and the Garden Tomb / Golgota en Tuingraf

North of the Damascus Gate is Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb.   This is where Protestants believe Christ was crucified and buried.   An English General Charles Gordon discovered the garden with a tomb cut out of rocks in 1882.   There was also a limestone hill that looked like a skull.

Reasons for recognising Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb as being the place where Christ was crucified and buried based on Biblical and historical investigations and excavations are listed below: –

Christ was buried outside the city (Hebrews 13:10-12).   The sacrifice which is a symbol of Christ’s redeeming death must be placed on the northern side of the altar.  Gordon’s Calvary is north.

The Bible teaches that Golgotha in Hebrews means “the place of the skull” (John 19:17).   The features of a skull are very apparent at Gordon’s Calvary.

John 19:41 shows that there was a garden where Christ was crucified.   Gardens in the time of the Bible had a water cistern and aqueduct system to water vegetables and fruit.  Evidence of the aqueduct and an underground water cistern has been found at Gordon’s Calvary.

John 19:41 also shows that the garden near Golgotha had a new empty grave.   It is very clear at Gordon’s Calvary that the existing grave had to be enlarged to accommodate a body; the markings can be very clearly seen.  A range of samples from the grave were sent to London to establish if there was any sign of decay there.   The tests were negative while a similar grave nearby showed evidence of decay.   The tests prove that no body lay decaying in that grave.  The Lord Jesus did not decay, after three days He arose.   One needs to ask why that specific grave never was used while the grave nearby is full of evidence skeletal bones and decay?   What is so holy about that grave that it was never used, while all the other graves around about were all used?   This discovery is a very strong reason why this grave was the grave of our Lord and Saviour.

According to Matthew 27:60 there was a large stone rolled in front of the grave.   At Gordon’s Calvary there is a channel that a large stone could be rolled in to cover the opening of the grave.

According to Mark 16:5 in the grave there was a place to sit on the right side.  There is a carved seat on the right of the grave at Gordon’s Calvary.

We read in John 20:11-12 that Mary stood outside the grave and she could see the two angels that stood at the head and feet of where Jesus had lain.  At the grave at Gordon’s Calvary you can easily see inside the grave from outside.

Gordan’s Calvary en die Tuingraf is Noord van die Damascuspoort geleë.  Dit is hier waar Protestante glo dat Christus gekruisig en begrawe was.  In 1882 het ‘n Engelse Generaal met die naam van Charles Gordon die graf wat uit kalksteen rotse gesny is in die tuin ontdek.  Daar was ook ‘n heuwel wat soos ‘n hoofskedel gelyk het.

Die redes waarom Gordon’s Calvary en die Tuingraf as die plek waar Christus gekruisig en begrawe is word gebaseer op Bybelse en geskiedkundige ondersoeke en opgrawings in die gebied.  Dit sluit in:-

Christus is buite die stad begrawe (Hebreërs 13:10-12).  Die offer wat die simbool is van Christus se vrymakende dood moet aan die noordelike kant van die altar geplaas word.  Gordon’s Calvary is Noord.

Die Bybel leer ons dat Golgota in Hebreërs “plek van die skedel” beteken (Johannes 19:17).  Die kenmerke van ‘n hoofskedel is baie duidelik sigbaar by Gordon’s Calvary.

Johannes 19:41 verwys na ‘n tuin waar Christus gekruisig is.  In die Bybelse tyd het tuine waterdam en waterleiding sisteme gehad vir die natmaak van groente en vrugte.  Daar is bewyse van ‘n waterleiding sisteem en ondergrondse waterdam is by Gordon’s Calvary gevind.

Johannes 19:41 verwys na ‘n tuin naby Golgota wat ‘n nuwe leë graf gehad het.  Dit is duidelik sigbaar by Gordon’s Calvary dat die huidige graf grooter gemaak moes word om ‘n liggaam daarin te kon bêre.  Hierdie kenmerke is duidelik sigbaar.  Verskeie monsters van die graf was London toe gestuur om te bepaal of daar enige tekens van verrotting was.  Die uitslae van die toetse was negatief terwyl toetse van ‘n graf wat naby geleë was wel tekens van verrotting getoon het.  Hierdie toetse het dus bewys dat geen liggaam in hierdie graf verrot het nie.  Jesus het nie verrot nie.  Hy het na drie dae opgestaan.  Die vraag ontstaan waarom hierdie spesefieke graf nooit gebruik is nie terwyl die graf daar naby vol tekens van skedelbene en verrotting is?  Hoekom word hierdie graf so heilig geag dat dit nie gebruik word nie terwyl ander grafte in die gebied wel gebruik is?  Hierdie ontdekking is ‘n sterk rede waarom hierdie graf die graf van ons Here en Saligmaker was.

Volgens Matteus 27:60 was ‘n groot klip voor die graf gerol.  ‘n sloot word by Gordon’s Calvary bespeur waar ‘n groot klip gerol kon gewees het om die opening van die graf toe te maak.

Volgens Markus 16:5 was daar plek in die graf om op die regter kant te sit.  Daar is ‘n sitplek op die regter kant van die graf by Gordon’s Calvary uitgesny.

Ons lees in Johannes 20:11-12 dat Maria vanaf buite die graf twee engele aan die kop en voetenent gesien staan het by die plek waar Jesus neergelê was.  By die Gordon’s Calvary graf kan die binnekant van die graf maklik vanaf buite gesien word.