Our Easter Message: The Holy Sepulchre

In the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem stands The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to the traditions of many Christian denominations, the church is said to encompass both the site of Jesus’s crucifiction as well as the tomb where he was buried and then resurrected.

Obviously, religious historians and authorities have differing views on the site, and the point of this letter is not to claim one thing or another. What is certain, however, is that the church has stood as holy ground for hundreds of years.

There’s one fact about the church I find particularly interesting. Control of the church is shared between multiple Christian denominations, who have all agreed to serve as collective custodians of that sacred place. As you can imagine, controversies, arguments, and even fights have broken out over the years, but generally, the various groups worship and coexist in peace.

Why do I find this interesting? Because it’s symbolic of an important truth. While we as Christians may all belong to different denominations, with different views, beliefs, and traditions, the love of our savior, Jesus Christ, extends to all of us. His sacrifice was for all of us. The blessings of his resurrection can be experienced by all of us.

As we prepare to celebrate another Easter, I’m humbled and moved by that knowledge. I wish you and your family a happy Easter. Peace be unto you.