Easter
Resurrection of Jesus Christ
After Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea had Christ's body placed in his own tomb. A large stone covered the entrance and soldiers guarded the sealed tomb. On the third day, a Sunday, several women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna and Salome are all mentioned in the gospel accounts) went to the tomb at dawn to anoint the body of Jesus.
A violent earthquake took place as an angel from heaven rolled back the stone. The guards shook in fear as the angel, dressed in bright white, sat upon the stone. The angel announced to the women that Jesus who was crucified was no longer in the tomb, "He is risen, just as he said." Then he instructed the women to inspect the tomb and see for themselves. Next he told them to go inform the disciples.
With a mixture of fear and joy they ran to obey the angel's command, but suddenly Jesus met them on their way. They fell at his feet and worshiped him. Jesus then said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me."
When the guards reported what had happened to the chief priests, they bribed the soldiers with a large sum of money, telling them to lie and say that the disciples had stolen the body in the night.
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the women near the tomb and later at least twice to the disciples while they were gathered at a house in prayer. He visited two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and he also appeared at the Sea of Galilee while several of the disciples were fishing. (John 21:1-14)A mysterious stranger asks the apostles for fish, but when they say that they have none, the stranger tells the apostles to throw their net into the water on the other (right hand) side of the boat, and the apostles are unable to pull it back due to the volume of fish. The narrative goes on to state that the (unnamed) beloved disciple identifies the stranger as Jesus, which causes Simon Peter to jump into the water, wrapping his coat around him, while the others follow in their boat dragging the net behind them. The number of fish caught is specified to have been 153.
According to the Gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.[22] The Gospel of Matthew states that an angel appeared near the tomb of Jesus and announced his resurrection to Mary Magdalene and "another Mary" who had arrived to anoint the body (Matthew 28:1-10). According to Luke there were two angels (Luke 24:4), and according to Mark there was a youth dressed in white (Mark 16:5). In the last section of Mark(Mark 16:9-20), which is considered a later addition by most biblical scholars(see Mark 16), it states that on the morning of his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). John states that when Mary looked into the tomb, two angels asked her why she was crying; and as she turned round she initially failed to recognize Jesus until he spoke her name (John 20:11-18).
The Acts of the Apostles state that Jesus appeared to various people in various places over the next forty days. Hours after his resurrection, he appeared to two travellers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). To his assembled disciples he showed himself on the evening after his resurrection (John 20:19). Although his own ministry had been specifically to Jews, according to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is said to have sent his apostles to the Gentiles with the Great Commission and ascended to heaven while a cloud concealed him from their sight. According to Acts, Paul of Tarsus was blinded by a light and heard the voice of Jesus during his Road to Damascus conversion. Jesus promised to come again to fulfil the remainder of Messianic prophecy.[23]The noncanonical Gospel of Peter, written some time in the first or second century,[37] records two men coming down from the sky and the stone rolling away on its own, at which time the frightened guards run away to report the breach. Some time later, the two men from Heaven escort Jesus from his tomb, with their heads reaching to the sky, and with Jesus' head reaching even higher. They are followed out by the cross, which is asked by a Heavenly voice if it has preached to the dead, and miraculously answers "yes."
Points of Interest from the Story:
• There are at least 12 different appearances of Christ in the resurrection accounts, beginning with Mary and ending with Paul. They were physical, tangible experiences with Christ eating, speaking and allowing himself to be touched.
• Jesus' resurrected body was different from his physical body. It was no longer subject to the same laws of nature. He could transcend locked doors, and yet he could still be touched and he could eat.
• Before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the Great Commission, telling his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.
• The stone was not rolled away from the tomb so Jesus could get out. He was able to walk through walls (John 20:19) in his resurrected body. The stone was rolled away so that everyone could see that he was risen.
• Before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the Great Commission, telling his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.
• The stone was not rolled away from the tomb so Jesus could get out. He was able to walk through walls (John 20:19) in his resurrected body. The stone was rolled away so that everyone could see that he was risen.
Question for Reflection:
When Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they didn't recognize him (Luke 24:13-33). They even talked in great length about Jesus, but they didn't know they were in his very presence. Has Jesus, the resurrected Savior visited you, but you didn't recognize him?
What is the Great Commission and why is it important to Christians today?
Answer:
After Jesus Christ's death on the cross, he was buried and resurrected on the third day. Before he ascended into heaven, he appeared to his disciples in Galilee and gave them these instructions:
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
This section of Scripture is known as the Great Commission. As the last recorded personal directive of the Savior to his disciples, it holds great significance to all followers of Christ. It is the foundation for evangelism and cross-cultural missions work in Christian theology. Because the Lord's instructions were to go to all nations and that he would be with us until the very end of the age, Christians of all generations have embraced this command. As many have said, it's not "The Great Suggestion." No, the Lord has commanded us to put our faith in action.
Other Biblical Accounts of the Great Commission
The full text of the most familiar version of Great Commission is recorded in Matthew 28:16-20. It is also found in the following Gospel texts. Though each version varies, these accounts record a similar encounter of Jesus with his disciples after the resurrection. In each instance Jesus sends his followers out with specific instructions. He uses commands such as go, teach, baptize, forgive and make disciples.
Mark 16:15-18
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (NIV)
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (NIV)
Luke 24:44-49
He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (NIV)
He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (NIV)
John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)
Photo of Jesus, taken from a negative on his burial cloth
You are seeing a 2000 year old photo of Jesus Christ. This photo of Jesus is taken from a negative image formed on his burial cloth known as The Shroud of Turin. The Shroud of Turin is a large rectangular linen cloth, believed by millions to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. It measures approximately 4.4 x 1.1 Meters (14.4 x 3.6 feet). It has been preserved with utmost care in the Royal Chapel of the ex-kings of Italy in the city of Turin, from the year 1578 onwards. Since the Shroud resides in the Royal Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, it is commonly referred to as the Shroud of Turin. Below is a picture of the Shroud as it appears to the naked eye.
This ancient linen cloth, yellowed with age, bears a very faint image of the frontal and back view of a human being. The painting below shows how Jesus was buried using a burial cloth, as was the custom in those ancient days. This explains the formation of images with frontal and back views in the two halves of the cloth.
More than one hundred years ago, on 28th May, 1898 an amateur Italian photographer, Mr. Secondo Pia, took the first photograph of the shroud. He was startled by the resulting negative which seemed to give the appearance of a positive image. See below more recent pictures of the actual image on the Shroud and the photo negative of it.
The actual image on the Shroud of Turin
Photo negative of same image
Ever since Mr. Secondo Pia took the first photograph of the shroud in 1898, the Shroud of Turin has been the subject of intense scientific study. What the amazed Scientists wanted to know was how could a perfect negative image of a human being get imprinted on an ancient piece of linen cloth. A negative imprint is like what appears on a developed film roll negative back in the days of 35mm photography. No one could understand how a perfect full length negative image of a human body could be formed on an ancient piece of linen cloth. Scientists found it difficult to accept the fact that it was a Miracle, but to date no one has been able to find an explanation. When the scientists did investigations with very modern sophisticated instruments, even more surprising facts emerged. They discovered that the image on this ancient cloth is more than just an ordinary photo negative, it also has digital information from which 3D images could be made. Many other surprising findings were also made, as detailed below.
Normally a photo captures the reflected light bouncing off the subject being photographed. This means that there will always be some areas with shadows on the photo, like behind the nose for example. The Shroud photo has absolutely no shadows; it is as if the light originated from the body of the subject.
Scientists associated with Los Almos National Laboratory (the leading research institute in USA credited with some of the world's famous discoveries including the Atomic Bomb) used a sophisticated image analysis instrument called the VP-8 Image Analyzer which is used by NASA (the American space agency who sent people to walk on the moon), to study the image on the Shroud. The VP-8 is used by NASA to convert radar photos of the surfaces of Planets like the Moon and Mars into topographical maps – that is to make three dimensional - 3D maps showing mountains and valleys. The VP-8 image analyzer produced a 3D image of the shroud photo.
These scientists had tried thousands of photos before on the VP-8 but never did they get a 3D result. The results on the Shroud were so spectacular that these hard core scientists are convinced that it is a miraculous image of Jesus Christ. Seen below is the 3D image created on the VP-8 image analyser.
The 3D VP-8 image
Sudarium Oviedo : In the bible mention is made of another cloth used in the burial of Jesus
"Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloth lying on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself." (John 20:6-7).
Shroud believers hold that the linen cloth refers to the Shroud of Turin, while the other cloth refers to the Sudarium of Oviedo.
The Sudarium of Oviedo has resided in the Cathedral of Oviedo in Spain since the 8th century. This small 83x53 centimeters (2.75x1.75 feet approx.), bloodstained piece of linen cloth, is revered as one of the burial cloths mentioned in the Gospel of St. John. The Sudarium of Oviedo is traditionally held to be the cloth that covered the head of Jesus.
The Sudarium's existence and presence in Spain is well documented since the seventh century. Before this historical evidence trace the location of the Sudarium to Jerusalem since the first centaury AD.
Forensic analysis of the bloodstains on the Shroud and the Sudarium suggest that both cloths covered the same head at nearly the same time. Based on the bloodstain patterns, the Sudarium would have been placed on the man's head while he was in a vertical position, presumably while still hanging on the cross.
A 1999 study by the Spanish Center for Sindology, investigated the relationship between the two cloths. Based on history, forensic pathology, blood chemistry (both the Shroud and the Sudarium have type AB blood stains), and the blood stain patterns being congruent on both cloths, they concluded that the two cloths covered the same head at two distinct, but close moments of time.
Wrong Carbon Dating of the Shroud: In 1988, a piece of cloth from one of the corners of the Shroud was given to 3 reputed International labs to do a Carbon Dating Test to determine the age of the Shroud. The results from all 3 labs said that the cloth was dated between the years 1260 and 1390. Later on it was proved that the samples taken by the labs were not the same as the main body of the Shroud cloth. This was because during the centauries that the shroud was venerated and held by the corners, the corners of the Shroud became damaged and it was repaired in the middle ages using a process called invisible darning using dyed threads available then.
Other amazing facts which have emerged on detailed scanning of the Shroud of Turin with modern technologies like UV scanning, etc. include
- Scourging or whip lash marks on the body consistent with a flogging with a Roman flagrum, a short whip of leather with the ends tipped with bits of lead or other metal which tore into flesh and muscle.
- Piercing marks of a crown of thorns on the head as described in the bible.
- Presence of Roman coin from the time of Jesus, placed over his eyes – this was a custom at the time of Jesus.
- Pollen found on the Shroud from flowers of variety of plants growing only in the Jerusalem Area. Other pollen confirms a historical trail from Jerusalem to Turin.
- Soil particles similar to soil in Jerusalem , below the foot imprint on the Shroud
- The rare hand weaving of the Shroud cloth traced to be of first centaury Middle East origin. Similar burial shrouds from 1st centaury AD have been found in Masada, an ancient Jewish fortress, which confirms it to be a genuine Jewish burial cloth.
- The nails are driven through the wrists rather than the palm of the hand. The general belief now and in the Middle Ages was that the nails were driven through the palm of the hand. Skeletons from first centaury AD of crucified victims, discovered in the Jerusalem area have the nails through the wrist. Also modern Science supports the fact that the weight of the body could not be held upright on the cross if the nails were driven through the palm of the hand.
If the Shroud is a fake, then a clever forger in Europe, sometime before the year 1578 (the year the Shroud came to Turin)
- Made a relic on a large piece of cloth with the exact weaving which was prevalent in the Middle East during the First Century AD.
- He then somehow managed to impose on the cloth, perfect full size human negative photographs with digital information on it (Many modern Scientists tried to make similar images on pieces of cloth, but not a single one has succeeded).
- The forger also included details not visible to human eyes, like the scourge marks of a first century Roman whip known as a flagrum, the crown of thorns on the head and put Roman Coins from the time of Jesus, over the eyes.
- He also decided to put on the Shroud, flower pollen found only in Jerusalem and from Constantinople and other areas (the routes which the Shroud took on its journey from Jerusalem to reach Turin).
- He added human blood stains to the fake shroud to be in exact congruence with the blood stains on the Sudarium of Oviedo. By strange coincidence, he used the rare type AB human blood group for the stains on this fake shroud. Remember, in those days no one knew about blood groups and had no means of knowing whether dried blood was human or from animals.
- Also, for good measure, he added some soil particles from the Jerusalem hills at the foot of the image.
Message for those of us who are convinced that the Shroud of Turin is the genuine burial cloth of Jesus Christ:
Venerate the Holy Face of Jesus and say the Lord's Prayer, the only Prayer Jesus taught us
Venerate the Holy Face of Jesus and say the Lord's Prayer, the only Prayer Jesus taught us
"Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses (sins),
As we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen"
Please visit the following sites for further knowledge on the Shroud of Turin.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/travels/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_24051998_sindone_en.html (Late Pope John Paul the Second's speech on the Holy shroud)
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