The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin has long been controversial.  Was it the burial cloth of Jesus?  Could it answer questions about Jesus and prove that He lived and died the way the Bible says? This 14 foot linen cloth of herringbone weave has undergone numerous test from critics over the centuries.  It was first photographed in 1898 by Secondo Pia.  The result was a surprise image when his negative revealed clear facial features never observed with the naked eye.  In 1970, a team of scientist found the markings on the cloth were consistent with a crucified body and the stains were real human blood.  The cloth reveals blood from a wound on the side, lacerations on the back and front showing the man was scourged, blood stains on the head and blood from the wrists and feet consistent with nail punctures.

In 1988, scientists removed a piece of cloth and tested it with radiocarbon testing.  Three independent labs concluded the date to be between 1260-1390, however, some say the samples were taken from the edge of the cloth placed around the edge to protect the delicate linen somewhere during the middle ages. It has been proven that the image was not painted on the cloth. In March 2010, researchers unveiled a revolutionary radiocarbon dating method that could allow scientist to establish accurate ages of artifacts without damage to the cloth.  Hopefully, there will soon be a more precise estimate of the Shroud's true age.

The Catholic Church has protected the Shroud over the centuries and for the first time in ten years  the shroud will be on public view from April 10 to May 23.

Recently, the History channel aired a program called "The Real Face of Jesus".  This program was the result of a year's work by a team of graphic experts.  Their purpose was to take the image from the cloth and using 3D software create a life like image of the man on the cloth.  It was amazing to see the results.  Was the image on the cloth that of Jesus?  Did they produce an image of what Jesus actually looked like? If you believe that the shroud is indeed the burial cloth of Jesus, then you would say yes.  If on the other hand, you do not believe the shroud belongs to Jesus, then you would say no.  To see for yourself, go to the following websites:  http://www.history.com/shows/the-real-face-of-jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLEM2qb-Vlg
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/real-face-jesus-10238292
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/face-jesus-revealed-10248139&tab=9482931&section=4765066&playlist=&page=1

Does it matter wither this cloth is the actual burial cloth of Jesus?  I agree with one lady interviewed by ABC news when she said, "It doesn't matter how He looked.  It's what He did that counts."

Early Morning Light

In the stillness of the early morning the whole earth seems to wait in anticipation for the grand entrance of the sun. Darkness gives way to the morning sunrise with shades of pinks, blues and yellows bursting forth as if to announce the coming arrival of the sun.  As the sun makes its way higher into the heavens its brightness dominates the sky forcing these beautiful colors to fade.  A new day begins with all its hopes and dreams.

Imagine what it must have felt like for a grieving band of disciples who watched their precious Lord hang on a cross and die. Darkness covered them. It appeared to them that evil had won and there was no hope at all. They wailed and mourned while fear grew ever stronger in their hearts thinking perhaps they too would suffer a similar fate. Darkness had a strong grip and held them tight.

The women made their way to the tomb in the still of darkness just before dawn to anoint the dead battered body of Jesus. They came with spices and ointments to what they thought was His final resting place.  As they walked down the road toward His tomb, sorrow grew stronger in their hearts. Looking into the heavens pinks, blues and yellows began to fill the sky. The sun would be up by the time they reached His tomb. Little did this small group of women understand what they were about to encounter.

The morning light revealed the tomb with the stone rolled away from the entrance. The tomb was empty and Jesus was not there. The Son had risen!

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."  Isaiah 62:1b-3

Birthday of a King

During this time of year, Christians focus on the birth of Jesus.  In America, the nation is thinking less about the meaning of Christmas and the beliefs our nation was founded upon and more about the "politically correct" things to say and do.  While it is correct to respect other people's ideas and religion or non-religion, it is also our right and privilege as Christians to express what we believe.


So what is it that we believe?  Do Christians think more about the commercial aspects of the Christmas season or do we know what, why and in whom we belief?  We don't really know the exact date of Jesus birth, but we do know where and how, Jesus was born.  We also know that Jesus' birth was planned while He was still in the heavenlies before His birth as a man as evidenced in the Holy Bible. Prophecies throughout the Old Testament foretold long before His birth:

His pre-existence and place of His earthly birth 

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

From the tribe of Judah

Genesis 49:10 "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his."

Heir to the Throne

Isaiah 9:6-7 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,  establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Born of a Virgin and His name shall be called Immanuel (God with us)

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Declared to be the Son of God

Psalm 2:7 "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."

Presented with gifts

Psalm 72:10 "The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts."

Remember who Jesus is and why He came.  He was the sacrificial Lamb of God, our Savior, and our King.  He was born of a virgin, lived among men, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead and is coming again!! Praise the Lord!!

Merry Christmas everyone.  Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

The Blood Sacrifice

The Old Testament gives vivid detailed instructions about the offering of a sacrifice in atonement for sin.  Since Jesus was our sacrifice for sin, we do not offer blood sacrifices on this side of the cross.  And because our culture is so different, we often do not fully understand the significance of its meaning.

Because sin had entered the world through Adam and Eve, God's plan provided a way for man to come back into the presence of the Holy God.  God provided a way through the shedding of blood.  A sacrifice had to be made.  God would give man a preview of that plan through the system of blood sacrifices in the Old Testament.  In Numbers 28-29, God called for 1,273 public sacrifices a year-each morning and evening, each Sabbath, the first day of each month and during the special feasts days of assembly and celebration.  In addition to the public sacrifices, there would also be individual sacrifices.  This must have been a continual blood bath as blood ran from the altar.

The offering had to be spotless and with no defects or blemishes.  As the animal is killed, the blood is caught and then sprinkled by the priest on the horns of the altar and poured out at the base of the altar.

One day a year was celebrated as the Day of Atonement.  On this day the High Priest would offer a sacrifice for the sins of the nation.  These sins were symbolically transferred to the spotless, blameless lamb dying in the place of the people and became the sin subsititute for the collective sins of the Jewish nation.  The High Priest after offering an animal sacrifice for his own sins, would take the blood of the lamb into the Holy of Holies.

Only one is allowed behind the veil, the curtain separating the people from the presence of God.  Only one can present the blood before God.  If for some reason the High Priest dies while he is behind the veil, no one is allowed to go in to get him.  God would strike them dead on the spot.

In the Holy of Holies the High Priest must sprinkle the blood on the Ark of the Covenant.  God either accepts or rejects the offering.  If God rejects the sacrifice, the High Priest is struck dead.  If God accepts the sacrifice, the High Priest returns to the people and rejoicing takes place.  The people knew their sins were forgiven for another year.

Jesus was both the High Priest and the Lamb of God.  He was the blameless lamb sacrificed for the sins of the nations.  He was the High Priest who carried His blood before the Father and presented it as atonement for our sins.  This is what John the Baptist meant when he said:

John 1:29  “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

He Is Risen!

Mark 16:6

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him."

Without the resurrection there could be no salvation.  Jesus would have been like other men. He would also have been a liar since Jesus told His disciples what was going to happen. (Mark 8:31, Matthew 17:22 and Luke 9:22)  He told them He would suffer many things and be rejected, killed and rise again.

Because He was resurrected, He was who He claimed to be...undeniably God. And because He was resurrected, God the Father accepted His atoning work on the cross.  This means the blood sacrifice was accepted and our sins were forgiven.  We are assured of a righteous judgement.

Romans 5:19  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

 Because He was resurrected, we are guaranteed our bodies will also be raised.

I Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Death has been abolished.  We will not suffer hell but will have eternal life in heaven.  Jesus conquered death.  He is risen. The tomb was empty. He paid the blood price so that we might live! 

I Corinthians 15:54-55  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. “ O Death, where is your sting?O Hades, where is your victory?"

Jesus is Savior

Colossians 1:19-20 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Jesus is 100% God.  Jesus is 100% Man.  Jesus is 100% Lord.  Jesus is 100% Savior.

Because man is sinful, God had to provide a way for us to be reconciled to Himself, the Holy God.  Jesus was that way...God in the flesh.  This God/Man became our way to reconciliation to God.  Reconciliation means "to bring back to harmony".  Because God is a Holy God, we could not and can not do this for ourself.   Sin can not enter His presence.  Our harmony with God was broken by sin and only a sacrifice could bring us back.  A sacrifice for sin by the shedding of blood had to be offered.  That sacrifice was Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God.  Jesus chose to be the sacrifice for you and me so we might boldly go before the throne of God and harmony could be restored.

Jesus is 100% Savior.

The only way He will be 100% your Savior is a simple as ABC.

Admit to God you are a sinner and need a Savior.  You recognize that you are sinful and are sorry for the sins you have committed.  That means to repent and turn from your wicked ways.

 Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

 Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"

 Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" 

Believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is who He says He is and He died for your sins on a cross, and rose from the dead in His resurrected body.

 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"

 John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"

 Romans 5:8 ^"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord.

 Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved"

 Romans 10:13 "for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Jesus is Lord

Colossians 1:17-18  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.    

 Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man but He is also 100% Lord.

Colossians tells us that Jesus holds everything together and in everything He has supremacy.   Think about that for a moment.  Jesus holds everything together...this vast universe, the stars in the sky and all the planets are held together by Him.  He holds the earth together.  He holds us together!  He is Lord over all.  He is the supreme authority.  And because of who He is and what He did for us, we owe Him our allegiance.  He is Lord, the supreme master.  He has absolute control.  He didn't have to die for our sins but He did.  He died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, we owe Him our allegiance.

The word Lord means one possessing absolute control; supreme master.  That is Jesus.  Jesus is Lord of all.

Jesus is 100% Lord.

Jesus is Man

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."


Jesus is 100% man.
God took on flesh to walk among us.  His name was Jesus.

Matthew 1: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). 

Jesus is 100% man minus the sin nature of man.  He is the incarnation of God with skin.  He took on flesh to feel what we feel.  He took on flesh to provide the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only [Son], who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Jesus is 100% man, God in the flesh.  If Jesus was not a man, He couldn't identify with our struggles and our temptations and He could not have died in our place.

Jesus is God

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.




Jesus is 100% God.  It is God who created all things.  Only God has that power.  Jesus is 100% God.

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

According to John 1:1  Jesus (the Word) was with God and was God and He created all things.  Jesus is eternal.  The Alpha and Omega-the beginning and the end.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

In Genesis our Holy Scriptures say that God created the heavens and the earth.  It did not say that man created the earth.

Jesus is 100% God.

If He were not God, He would not have the power to heal, perform miracles, cause the winds to cease upon the sea and no authority to save us from sin.

Jesus is 100% God.

The Image of the Invisible God

"He is the image of the invisible God"...  Colossians 1:15

I am the firstborn of my mother and through the years I have been told on numerous occasions that I look like her.  I admit that it is true and the older I get, the more the reflection in the mirror tells me so.

While you can see me in my physical body and Mother in hers, God is invisible.  How do we know what God looks like?  How do we know who He is?  How do we know His nature and His character?  There is only one way.  That is through the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is God in the flesh. God Himself took on flesh and was born as a baby.  He lived.  He walked among us as a human.  He died on a cross for my sins and yours.  He was buried in a tomb.  He rose from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and He is coming again!

How do we know what God looks like--look to Jesus and you will know.  How do I look to Jesus?  Open the Holy Bible and you will find a wealth of information about this God who became man.  This man who died on a cross for our sin.  This man who was with God and was God before the foundation of the world.  This man who was firstborn over all creation and the firstborn from the dead.

We do not know what Jesus looks like physically but we do know His character and His nature.  He himself said that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father but through Him.  He provided a way for the forgiveness of sin.  Won't you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior right now?

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

While physically I look like my mother, my greatest desire is to look like Jesus.  I can only do that through the power of His saving grace as I journey through this life.