An Enigma

I first heard the word "enigma" in middle school - I believe it was fifth grade to be exact. We were doing a unit in our LAUNCH class about different unsolved mysteries throughout the ages like the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, Roanoake, VA, etc. I became absolutely fascinated with historical mysteries and legends. I was obviously a nerd.

Well, guess what, I am STILL a nerd. I especially love Biblical mysteries - where is Noah's Ark, what happened to the Ark of the Covenant...I love it all. Last night, hubby and I were flipping through the channels and there was something on Discovery about the Shroud of Turin and how Leonardo da Vinci may have been the one who painted it. I know just a little about the Shroud, so I spouted off some of my knowledge, just to impress my husband. He laughed at me and accused me of reading some news article regarding the Shroud on Fox News that day, which I hadn't, FYI. We began to chat about the Shroud and I shrugged it off as hogwash. I mean, come on - I don't think I'm a skeptic or a cynic, but it looked really strange and hokey to me - at least what I had seen.

Today I began to get curious again and did a little online research about the Shroud. Did you know that if you google "Shroud of Turin" you get 345,000 hits? Well, I began reading about it - just briefly - and I have to say that my initial impressions have changed.

Okay first of all, the Shroud of Turin is said by some to be the burial clothes of Jesus and carry the imprint of his face and body on it. It is located at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. There are many people who say that this is a hoax, but I have to ask this question, as a Christian - why couldn't it be possible? As a Christian I believe:

1. Jesus was born of a virgin
2. Jesus was crucified
3. Jesus was dead
4. Jesus was raised from the dead after 3 days
5. Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven

Um...wow, talk about a huge list of MAJORLY impossible feats. I mean a virgin birth? Resurrection from the dead? Huge following after His Ascension into heaven that caused many to lose their lives in gruesome deaths in His name? And I can't believe that His imprint could be on a cloth?

It's an interesting enigma to study - one that is very far advanced for me to try and write about because I don't fully understand it. But during this Easter week, when we're all celebrating the most miraculous day in history, it's a pretty interesting thing to look into. If you're game.

http://www.shroud.com
http://www.shroudstory.com
http://www.shroudforum.com/