Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-26
By
Edgar E.
Folk, DID.
The True Calvary and
the Real Tomb

went he not in Then cometh Simon Pc
ter following him, and went into the
sepuchre, and sooth the linen clothes ne'
and the napkin, that was about his head,
not lying with the linen clothes, put
wrapped together in place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple,
which came first to the sepulchre, and
he saw, and believed" (John 2O:3-2)
Gordon's tomb consists of chamber
cut in the solid rock seven feet, SIX
inches high; IA feet. six inches long; IL
feet, two inches wide. A low PARTITION
divides the tomb into two parts. In the
eastern part of the partition provision
had been made for three bodies, but only
one of the loculi had been completed,
the one on the north. In this, beyond
doubt the body of the Lord was laid.
On the east side of the partition there
is a little window like opening The
Apostle John, reaching the tomb hrst
and Cooking in" through that opening
could see 1.-The linen clothes lying in the
receptacle where the body of the Lord
had lain, but did not enter. Simon Peter,
though, with his usual impulsiveness
rushed right in and was followed by
John. This little window-like opening
explains how John could see inside the
tomb without entering. How true to fact
is this tomb! How II conforms to the
Scriptural account in every particular.
AS we noticed these things. and a. we
went inside, we believed and said, This
is it. This is the place where the Lord
lay" And as we saw the empty tomb
we exclaimed in the language of the
angels HE is not here. He is risen,"
and we could not but feel a deep graf
itude in our hearts that this was true.
And If Christ be not raised, your faith
is vain; We are yet in your sins. Then
they also which are fallen asleep in
Christ are persisted. But now is Christ
risen from the dead, and become the
first fruits of them that slept" q Cor.
15:171S-20).
A SERVICE IN THE TOMB.
On the walls of the tomb are In
scribed roughly the Greek letters Il. c.
TX. p" "a. and o." meaning Jesus
Christ" Christ, the alpha and omega
and also Roman cross. While these ev-
identity date from the fifth century after
Christ yet they go to indicate that the
early Christians regarded this tomb as
sacred and made H. a sort of shrine,
which fact would go to confirm its au-
thenticity So sure did we feel that we
were in the very tomb of the Lord that
after most of the party had left some
of us remained behind and had a little
service in the tomb. 1 had my New
Testament with me and read from IT the
several accounts of the burial and res
rection of our Lord. We then knelt in
the tomb and had a chain of prayers, led
Keyton and myself. Oh! it was a very
previous service. the most delightful
single experience I had on the whole
trip. 1t was worth crossing ocean and
sea to have the privilege of such serv-
ice in the tomb of Him who was de
livered up for our trespasses, and was
raised for our Justification We came
away from that tomb in the garden with
a strong faith I'm Him, deeper love
for Him. and a determination to preach
Jesus and the resurrection" with more
earnestness than ever before. Yes, l
have seen the tomb in which He lay.
He is not there. He is risen. I know 1t
and I want the world to know II.