If Tombs Could Talk
Iran is constantly in the news. How many of us know that modern day Iran is the same country as Ancient Persia, from our Bibles? While I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran I visited many ancient sites. Persepolis was one of the most famous. It is possible Queen Esther, from our Bibles, walked its streets. While walking through the ruins I tried to picture what it looked like two thousand seven hundred years ago.
Queen Esther died in Persia along with her uncle Mordecai. Her tomb, in Fars Province, was one of those ancient sites I visited. In the 1970’s it was still well kept by Jews. While many Jews returned to Israel to rebuild the Temple, when freed by Cyrus the Great, many remained in the area. Their ancestors were still caring for her tomb in the 70’s.
As I stood gazing into the tomb, I could not help but let my mind wonder and imagine what Queen Esther looked like. She had to be a beautiful and courageous woman. While the Biblical account goes into some detail about her life, we are left to fill in many blanks. If Esther were to speak to us from her tomb, what would she tell us? A bigger question today might be, who would listen?
Friends, the message of Queen Esther’s Tomb is Jesus conquered the grave and she will one day arise from it.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25 NIV
Leave a Reply