As many readers will remember, Nancy and I were privileged to travel to Israel in 2018 and visit many Biblical sites both in Galilee where Jesus conducted most of His ministry as well as in Jerusalem where He eventually was crucified and rose again. It was an incredible faith journey as we literally walked in the footsteps of the Son of God.
One of the highlights for me was to visit the Israel Museum. Being an archaeology junkie, I had read about many of the artifacts displayed in this remarkable collection. We saw clay seals of Queen Jezebel and King Hezekiah and some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We gazed on King Herod’s coffin as well as the ancient Tel Dan Inscription which helped to verify King David’s existence. Also on display was the oldest portion of written Hebrew Scripture featuring the priestly blessing from Numbers 6 engraved on a tiny silver amulet.
There were many other exceptional items from both Old and New Testament excavations, but one piece was particularly powerful. Near an ankle bone still pierced with a crucifixion nail sat a beautiful stone ossuary.
An ossuary is basically a bone box about the size of a storage trunk. After a loved one died, Jews would wrap the body in linen with spices as Joseph of Arimathea did for Jesus. They would then lay the body in a stone tomb while the flesh rotted away. After a year or so, they returned to collect the bare bones and place them in a stone chest called an ossuary. Bones from several relatives were often placed in the same ossuary over many years.
This particular ossuary was ornately carved from beautiful white limestone and was found when a construction bulldozer unexpectedly opened the tomb that contained it in 1990. Inside the thirty inch box were bones of two infants, two teenagers, one adult female and one male about 60 years old. All were reinterred in the largest Jewish cemetery in the world on the Mount of Olives. But what makes this particular ossuary exceptional are two inscriptions on it that read, “Joseph, son of Caiaphas.”
Having just observed Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, that name should ring a bell for he is mentioned by Matthew, Luke, and John. Caiaphas was the High Priest who presided over Jesus’ religious trials after His arrest in Gethsemane and he led the others to convince Pilate to crucify Jesus. Later in the book of Acts, he is found spearheading persecution of Jesus’ followers.
References to Caiaphas are sparse outside the Bible, but this discovery is convincing since the burial chamber was typical from the time that Caiaphas would have died. The intricate ornamentation also indicates it belonged to someone of great financial, religious, and political stature. Although it’s impossible to be completely certain, it’s very conceivable, even probable, that the bones of the adult male in this ossuary are those of this infamous High Priest.
Aside from verifying the existence of a key player in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the most moving aspect of this ancient relic is the irony involved. Although Caiaphas sought to keep Jesus in His tomb, it is still verifiably empty, while his own bone filled ossuary has been uncovered and put on public display. Don’t tell me God doesn’t have a sense of humor.
The privilege to see this artifact after years of study from afar was a very touching moment for me. Obviously I burned several of its photos into my camera as well as its image into my brain. Nancy and I are planning a return trip to Israel this November and if anyone would like to join us, please contact me for details.
In the meantime, as we reflect on the evidence both inside and outside the Bible, may we understand, believe, and appreciate that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead while those who sought to destroy Him still languish in their graves.
Resurrection blessings! George