Two Tombs

"It was the day of days, the most wonderful I have ever lived through"

"For the moment - an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by - I was struck dumb with amazement. When Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, "Can you see anything?", it was all I could do to get out the words, "Yes, wonderful things"

British archaeologist Howard Carter describes the disovery of the tomb of Pharoah Tutankhamun of Egypt

The Valley of The Kings was the last resting place for the powerful rulers of ancient Egypt. Here, attended by great ceremony, were placed the earthly remains of the pharoahs along with their accumulated wealth. British archaeologist Howard Carter had spent seven long years in this area searching for the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun, which he hoped to locate in an undisturbed condition. He was accompanied by his partner, Lord Carnarvon, who was paying for the many expenses incurred in Carter's quest. That they finally located the tomb in relatively pristine condition in an area that was a well known haunt of grave robbers, and just when Carnavon's vast wealth was about to give out, is somewhat miraculous.

Howard Carter's quotes upon finding the tomb of King Tut have many parallels with the story of Jesus that is told in the four gospels. The life of Christ was one of great highs and deep lows, of a crowd that hailed Him with hosannas as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and shouted for His crucifixion a brief five days later. It was truly a life filled with wonderful things.

His birth in a manger, the homage paid by kings from the East, the adoration of the shepherds - wonderful things.

A dove descending from heaven, His resistance of temptation in the wilderness, water changed to wine at a wedding feast - wonderful things.

Healing of the blind, the lame, the leprous - wonderful things.

Feeding five thousand, the raising of a friend from death - wonderful things.

The meal in the upper room that fed souls as well as bodies, resolution in the dark of night - wonderful things.

A journey of agony to a skull-shaped hill, words of love for His mother, words of forgiveness and inclusion for a repentant sinner - wonderful things.

An empty tomb in a quiet garden – the most wonderful thing of all!

And so we come full circle -- two tombs stand before us. King Tutankhamun's - filled with gold, diamonds, rubies. The tomb of Christ - empty save for a shroud and head cloth rolled and placed in the place where He lay.

Two tombs. Which holds the greatest riches?

The inspirational material written above was penned by Andrew Henry, a member of the ECBC congregation who regularly puts his God given talents for observation, writing, and poetry to work in the service of God.