The Story Behind the Design
(as shared with us by the artist)On Easter Sunday in spring of 2004, I was sitting in Helen 1st Baptist Church in Helen, Georgia, listening to Pastor Jim Holmes’ sermon.
He spoke so passionately about God’s sacrifice and Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. It was all part of God’s plan and crucial for our redemption. Jesus’ death made our forgiveness and reconciliation with God possible.
But Pastor Jim emphasized that the cross was NOT the end of The Story!
Yet for so long now, people have clung to the cross as a symbol. It is crucial – but it symbolizes death and ultimate sacrifice. The story culminated on the third day when Jesus – in Power, Victory and Glory rose from the dead!
At this point in the sermon, Pastor Jim’s face radiated the wonder and the miracle of the Resurrection. Jesus is Alive – The stone rolled away! And because He lives, we can live if we believe.
Then Pastor Jim looked out over the congregation, imploring no one in particular “I see Crosses everywhere! Where is the symbol for the greatest Victory of all time?! Where is the symbol for the gift of Everlasting Life? Where is the symbol for the Resurrection?? I wish some designer somewhere would make a tie-tack pin or something to celebrate the joy and excitement of Easter morning! I want something new; something that means Jesus is Alive now!”
That sermon, that request, spoke to my heart and stayed with me. A few weeks later, during my devotional time, a design concept came to me and I sketched it in my Bible. As a jewelry designer, I believed there had to be a way to symbolize what Pastor Jim was talking about. I felt inspired to design this symbol.
For over a year and a half, I worked and reworked the design, making hundreds of sketches and variations while praying for God’s direction. I researched everything that I could find relative to the Resurrection and the tomb of Jesus. I consulted repeatedly with Pastor Jim for the right scriptures and Greek translations. The design you see now is the one I believe God led me to create.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that “The Open Door to An Empty Tomb” symbol will give believers another way to outwardly express their faith.
Because it’s new, when people see it, they will ask you what it is and what it means. Then this symbol will open the door for you to share your belief in Jesus. His miraculous birth, His perfect life, His sacrificial death, and…....most importantly, His Resurrection.
-TCB 2005
Because He is The Resurrection and the Life and all who believe in Him shall not die but have life everlasting.
(John 11:25)