John 20:3-9 -- So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
One simple reason is that it matters to a lot of people. Christianity is the world's largest religion by population, with approximately 2.4 billion adherents, or around 31.6% of the global population. If Jesus had not "conquered death," the number of Christians would be ZERO!
THE SHROUD SCIENTIFICALLY DOCUMENTED THE MOMENT THAT JESUS CHANGED EVEYTHING FOR THE JEWS, CHRISTIANS AND THE ENTIRE WORLD.
The term "good news" is used in Christianity to refer to the gospel message of Jesus Christ. The "good message" in the New Testament is the news of salvation, or liberation from sin, brokenness, and estrangement from God. The basis for His and His disciples' message rises and falls on whether or not Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead.
While Jesus was alive, during His ministry many came looking for signs that He was the Messiah. In Matthew 12:38 (KJV) it reads "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee." Scenes of such a demand is repeated in the Gospel of Mark and Luke. In every instance Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that "there shall be no sign given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah (Jonas)."
It is understood that Jesus's reference to Jonah "being in the belly of a "dahg gadōl" (Large/Great Fish) is the sign that He will die, be in the tomb until the third day and then rise from the dead. Jesus offered no other sign when challenged to produce a sign. He didn't show the Jewish leaders any other healing miracles as the basis for being the Messiah. Rising from the dead was his proof and for that, the Jewish leaders would have to wait until after he was crucified. Jesus's testimony only offered the promise of saving them!
John 10:17-18 (NIV) :"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
The Shroud reveals His suffering and other details in scriptures:
Humans endured the suffering process of crucifixion for varying lengths of time. If the convicted didn't die fast enough the Roman soldiers carrying out their death sentence would break the criminal's legs in order to accelerate the person's asphyxiation. It is said that Jesus willingly "gave up His life," so the Roman soldiers did not need to break Jesus's bones after they confirmed he was already dead by piercing his lungs with a spear and seeing water and blood poured out. This was also a fulfillment of prophecy.
Every minute detail about Jesus's excruciating suffering and death as described in Old Testament prophecy and New Testament scriptures is documented on the Shroud. The Shroud reveals every step from sweating blood to the beatings, the crown of thorns, the scourging, carrying the cross, falling down, being nailed to the cross and even the timing of his death.
Science shows that the possibility of a reproduction is beyond all odds! In fact, even today expert scientists agree that they cannot conceive forging the Shroud. It truly is by all measures miraculous!
John 19:38-40 (NIV): "Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs."
Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin (the Great Assembly that convicted Yeshua) and a secret follower of Jesus. He went to Pilate to ask for Jesus's body. Pilate granted his request, and Joseph took Jesus's dead body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in an unused tomb. This account is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Nicodemus helped Joseph prepare Yeshua's body on the night of Passover. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council who visited Jesus at night, as described in John 3:1-21. This nighttime visit allowed Nicodemus to speak with Jesus privately and inquire about his teachings without drawing attention from other Pharisees or the public. During this conversation, Jesus explained the concept of being "born again" and revealed the foundational principles of spiritual rebirth and salvation through belief in Him. One of the most famous verses from this passage is John 3:16, where Jesus emphasizes God's love for the world and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him.
it is notable that both of these Jewish leaders, Joseph and Nicodemus, willingly made themselves ritually impure by handling a dead body on the evening of Passover. Therefore, they could not participate in the Passover. They also exposed themselves as followers of Jesus, which was surely devastating to their status in the Sanhedrin.
The Shroud of Turin provides compelling and irrefutable evidence of the crucifixion and ressurection. It is literally a photograph of all the unimaginable torture and pain that Jesus endured to show us His love. His crucifixion was the ultimate act of selfless love.
What if Jesus wrote us a love letter with his blood?
John 12:46 NIV: "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
Throughout His Ministry Jesus emphasizes that He is the Light. When you understand the science of the creation of the Shroud you must appreciate the miraculous way light produced the image on the Shroud. What if Jesus used Light to document his ressurection?
What if Jesus recorded the evidence of His death and ressurection on a 14 feet 3 inches long by 3 feet 7 inches wide sheet of linen and then personally left it for the world to read?
What if Jesus meant for the proof of his message to be revealed at this point in time?!
Over the last 2000 years the Shroud of Turin has been controversial. There have been numerous questions concerning it's legitimacy and scientific challenges to it's validity. Latter scientific evidence has addressed older negative arguments, however the scientific means for the strongest evidence has only become possible in recent times.
For a time such as this!
Perhaps the most miraculous aspect of the Shroud is the amazing Light that was required to create the image. Jesus is truly the Light. It is only in modern times can science understood and explain the phenomenon that produced the Shroud.
The Shroud may be the greatest love letter ever written. It was written on a linen scroll by Jesus with His own blood. It was the "Sign of Jonah."
Judge for yourself. I've put links to several videos below that you can watch. Hear the science and reach your own conclusions.
Each of these is an excellent source:
New Evidence for the Shroud of Turin
Barrie Schwartz Exposes Jaw-Dropping New Evidence About the Shroud of Turin
The Suffering of the Man of the Shroud
There is much more!!
https://www.theshroudofturin.org/
P.S. I pray you will read my other blog posts about the Shroud.
- The Perfector
- The Keter on the Shroud
- Asking Questions About the Image on the Shroud
- The Man In the Shroud
- Have You Seen Him?
