JNS
The empty tomb is believed by some—particularly evangelicals and other Protestants—to be the location of Jesus's burial and resurrection.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attended Easter prayers early Sunday morning at the Garden Tomb outside the Old City of Jerusalem.
The empty tomb, situated adjacent to a rocky outcrop known as Skull Hill 220 yards north of the Damascus Gate in the eastern part of the nation's capital, is believed by some—particularly evangelicals and other Protestants—to be the location of Jesus's burial and resurrection.
"Greetings, everyone, on this beautiful Easter Sunday," Huckabee said in a video statement posted to his official X account.
"I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to have been named by President Trump to come to this holy city and to begin representing the United States of America to the people of Israel," stated the diplomat.
"Over the past 52 years, I've been here probably 100 times, but never did I dream of coming in the capacity as ambassador," continued Huckabee. "An ambassador means that you are the representative, and you don't have your message; you have someone else's.
"We have the opportunity to be representatives not only of our government, but also representatives of Jesus Christ," he said.
"It was here in this city where he spent his last week, here in this city where he was crucified, and here in this city where he rose again, to give all of us a real sense of hope," according to Huckabee.
"It's that hope that I genuinely believe is needed in this world and across all of our lives to recognize that God's presence here in this city is a remarkable reminder that God is not finished with us yet," he said.
"We ask you to pray for the peace of Jerusalem," the ambassador said.
On Friday, Huckabee arrived at the Western Wall to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to insert a handwritten note from U.S. President Donald Trump between the stones of the ancient Jewish edifice.
It was the ambassador’s first action, less than 24 hours after arriving to take up his post, and even before he presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Huckabee, speaking to a group of reporters, told JNS that the U.S.-Israeli bond is "rooted in our love of democracy and our love of the Judeo-Christian understanding that every life has worth and value."
While standing together with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Huckabee expressed his profound awe in making his first stop as a diplomat at the remnant of the ancient Temple.
"What an honor it is for me to be here on behalf of President of the United States Donald Trump and to present a prayer that he handwrote and gave to me last Thursday in the White House, with the instruction that my first act as the ambassador would be to take his prayer, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, and to bring it to the Wall and to pray that there would in fact be peace in the land," Huckabee said.
"It's a special honor and joy to be able to do this on this final weekend of Passover. I cannot think of a better time to come and to bring this message of goodwill, and I also come with a prayer that all of the hostages will come home now and that we'll bring them home. And that is the prayer of the president as well," Huckabee added.
