Empty Tomb Eclipse Pendant

Awake at three a.m. with my newborn daughter, I found myself thinking about life and, given the circumstances of the week, death.

My thoughts drifted to Christ's death, and his burial in the garden tomb. I began to meditate on it, and sketched whatever images came to mind. It began as two simple circles, one black (the hole), and one white (the stone). As I looked at this most simple representation of the tomb and stone, it occurred to me that the hole ought to be light, as it contained unquenchable life, and the stone dark, as it represented the weight of sin and death, however temporary.

As I continued to stare at these two circles, it dawned on me that they looked an awful lot like an eclipse, and then I remembered that there was an eclipse while Christ hung on the cross. Exhilarated, I knew without looking that the eclipse must have lasted for three hours, just as the stone remained over the tomb for three days. I grabbed my Bible, and found it was, indeed, true.

I started altering the sketch, trying to superimpose the empty tomb with the symbol of an eclipse, in the simplest, but most communicatory fashion - the result of which you see here. It is a sign of life triumphing over death, purity over sin, and light over darkness. The moon (and stone), however large they seem to loom from our perspective, are actually only specks when contrasted with the bright, morning star.

I hope this pendant brings great encouragement and hope to you, as the morning star rises in our hearts. Our trials and this temporary state of sin, death, and separation, will not last forever. And maybe only for the count of three.

NOTE: if you use a chain, you will need to open the ring at one end to thread the chain through the pendant. Alternately, you may use two jump rings. Cords with slip knots work well.