The Crucifixion Site and Garden Tomb
In 1978 while walking with a local authority in Jerusalem and discussing Roman antiquities,
Ron Wyatt pointed to a trash pile under the escarpment of Golgotha and stated,
"That's Jeremiah's grotto and the Ark of the Covenant is in there." That would begin a search of discovery leading
to the actual crucifixion site and adjoining Garden Tomb of Jesus Christ.
The Crucifixion Site of Jesus
The first discovery Ron made when excavating down the face of the escarpment where he had first pointed, was the crucifixion
site the Romans used just outside the walls of the city dated to the time of Jesus.
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrews Golgotha:
Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city:
and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
(John 19:17-20 KJV)
From the area Ron first pointed to they dug down the face of the escarpment where niches in the rock were discovered.
Continuing to dig, they came to bedrock with cross holes cut out of the rock.
The cross holes were found to have stone plugs or covers. This was to secure against debris because the Romans would reuse them as needed.
Ron displays the actual plug of the outset cross hole believed to be used for the cross of Jesus.
Proximity of the Crucifixion Site at Golgotha
The Garden Tomb
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre,
wherein was never man yet laid.
(John 19:41 KJV)
Tomb in Early Excavation
* Current Tomb Condition
* Tomb Orientation Map
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
(Matthew 27:57-60 KJV)
The Garden Tomb is proven as authentic by it's description in the Bible narrative as hewn out in the rock with
features supporting a great stone to the door, the proximity to Golgotha, also "nigh to the city," the crucifixion site of Jesus,
the adjacent ancient garden area and the remains of a sheared-off Roman Seal*
The Remains of the Roman Seal
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people,
He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way,
make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
(Mat 27:62-66 KJV)
Location of the Seal at Tomb
* Iron in Lead Sheath
* Measuring from the Seal
And, behold, there was a great earthquake
for
the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door:,
and sat upon it.
(Mat 28:2 KJV)
*The remains of a sheared-off Roman period lead-sheathed iron shaft at the right location to make the stone sure or unmovable,
discovered and documented in the outside wall of the tomb, is witness that neither the
disciples or anyone else removed the seal but that the condition of the remains of the leaded iron stake are the result of the rolling away of
the stone from the door by such force that it indicates supernatural intervention.
The Great Rolling Stone
The Discovery
Having found the discoveries of Ron Wyatt, Simon Brown and wife Emma began traveling to the sites proving to themselves and then to others the
authenticity of Ron's discoveries. Along the way they began finding more and more evidences of events of the Bible narrative. Simon's research
led to his producing the video "Our Search for the Tomb of Jesus" among others. While reviewing video for updating his website
he came across film showing a great rolling stone. His subsequent inquiries
led him to the Abu Badd stone resting on Mount Nebo in Jordan. After much research he produced the video "The Great Missing Stone" believing
the evidence sufficient to present. However, more was to come when it was discovered in older photos of the Garden Tomb entrance revealed a catch stone
in the rolling tract missing today. The location and angle of this missing catch stone aligned perfectly for the great rolling stone to fit
The Garden Tomb.
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb,
which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
(Mat 27:57-60 KJV)
And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
(Mark 16:2-4 KJV)
Early Picture of Catch Stone
* Chisel Marks match
* Measuring the Stone
A Catch Stone is discovered in early photos of the Garden Tomb entrance rolling trough in a position showing the Abu Badd Rolling Stone to be
the correct size to fit the Garden Tomb door of scripture.
Mount Nebo
The Jordanian hill called Mount Nebo is an elevated ridge that is approximately 817 meters (2680 feet) above sea level.
The view from the summit provides a panorama of the Holy Land. To the north is a more limited view of the valley of the River Jordan.
The West Bank city of Jericho is usually visible from the summit, as is Jerusalem on a very clear day.
 
Great Rolling Stone * Sculpture of the Serpent
See Salvation through the serpent on a pole
Just as Christ's blood on the Mercy Seat covers the Law in the Ark of the Covenant,
what better illustration than Christ's rolled away tomb stone above the grave of Moses?
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
Jesus confirmed the connection after His resurrection to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
(Luke 24:27 KJV)
Rolling Stone information courtesy of Simon Brown
Caption under the
background picture from Dr. McBirnie's 1975 book
"The Search for the Authentic Tomb of Jesus."
"Dr. McBirnie crouches under the "skull hill" in a large cave which runs under the entire scarp some 12 ft.
below the level of the ground. The cave marks the northern end of the same quarry that reaches under the old
city in "Solomon's Quarries."
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