Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday

I've been watching t.v. this morning and one of the things I saw was latest studies on the "Shroud of Turin." Had me in tears to hear them describe the person that was crucified. They cannot say with certainty that it was Jesus Christ, but if you think of how these linens were protected and lasted all these years... ??? It's like the Hebrews in the Wilderness, and how their shoes and clothes lasted for 40 years of wandering... miracles like that happen when God is involved. Watching the documentaries about these cloths is very interesting, especially now that they are using all the latest technologies to check them out!

On May 28, 1898, amateur Italian photographer Secondo Pia took the first photograph of the shroud and was startled by the negative in his darkroom. Negatives of the image give the appearance of a positive image, which implies that the shroud image is itself effectively a negative of some kind. Magician and paranormal skeptic Joe Nickell, however, notes that: "it's not a true photographic negative. The hair and beard are white in the positive image. Unless Jesus was an albino, there's a problem there." WIKIPEDIA

I don't know if this linen was wrapped around Christ, but with all the unbelief and efforts given to prove that it wasn't, makes me smile. It would just be like our Lord to leave something like this to confound the 'intelligent.'

Three days? Why did Jesus stay in the grave three days? I asked Doug that last night. Today I heard on a Christian talk show... when Moses said that the Hebrews would leave Egypt and go out on a three days journey, it meant something to them. When a slave walked three days away from his owner, he was immediately free. When Christ took three days to come back, it had to do with freedom. Our freedom from Death and sin! That deserves some looking into! I KNOW that everything God does has purpose... EVERYTHING!

Our church will be observing Good Friday with a communion service this evening. It's traditional with Wasilla Bible Church to have an early morning service along the roadside to Hatcher's Pass at 7 A.M., Sunday. Those attending pledge to be loyal to Jesus Christ. There is a song, prayer, and the pledge, then it's over! Five minutes, if that, at the most. If you are late... you will surely have missed it! Used to have donuts there, but bring your own coffee. Later in the morning we have our regular Easter services. In the evening WBC has a baptismal service scheduled for any that wish to be baptized (previously scheduled).

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"" Matthew 27: 50 - 54.

SO INCREDIBLE!

Happy Easter!

5 comments:

nancy said...

What a wonderful Easter post, Connie. I love the sound of your early morning pledge meeting. The road up to Hatcher Pass is one I remember well. There is a strange quality to that terrain. It was unsettling to me. Surreal, if you know what I mean.
I went to a Tennebrae Service this evening and it was a real blessing.
Nancy

elizabeth embracing life said...

I love this post. Reading and learning more about Christ Jesus. I never knew about the three days and it's significence. Thanks so much for bringing my spirit into a greater depth of this Easter Weekend. Blessings.

Faith said...

Beautiful post. Happy Resurrection Day my friend in Alaska!!

mrsjojo said...

I really like what you do as a church on Good Friday! Thanks for sharing.

Susannah said...

Isn't it interesting to think that the Lord left behind a "photograph" long before the days of photography? (Timely, as I've just started a new photography blog!)

I've seen various T.V. programs on this shroud, but the producers and researchers seem unconvinced of its true authenticity. It seems to defy definition. I'm skeptical-- but hopeful. :~D