The National Geographic reports that exploration of the portion of Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre traditionally considered the site of Jesus of Nazareth’s burial has revealed a limestone tomb actually residing within protective housing built around and over it some 5 centuries ago. The photographs taken of the tomb are the first ever (there being no photography the last time the housing was open in 1555).While these finding do nothing to prove the historicity of the New Testament’s accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus it goes a long way to confirm that this particular site has been the only one identified as Jesus’ (allegedly temporary) resting place since the 4th century. The article begins:
“Researchers have continued their investigation into the site where the body of Jesus Christ is traditionally believed to have been buried, and their preliminary findings appear to confirm that portions of the tomb are still present today, having survived centuries of damage, destruction, and reconstruction of the surrounding Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City.
“The most venerated site in the Christian world, the tomb today consists of a limestone shelf or burial bed that was hewn from the wall of a cave. Since at least 1555, and most likely centuries earlier, the burial bed has been covered in marble cladding, allegedly to prevent eager pilgrims from removing bits of the original rock as souvenirs.”
Read the entire article here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/jesus-christ-tomb-burial-church-holy-sepulchre/
