the Shroud as ‘back’ or ‘front’ is completely wrong. On the right, the well-known frontal Image residing only on the inside of the cloth; on the left, the newly discovered digitally enhanced Image in the same area on the outside (or exterior) of the linen.
Another ‘Face’ on the Shroud?
This Easter was no exception.
The news from one of the world’s top sindonologists was again riveting.
Another Image of the Holy Face of Jesus!
While distorted in appearance, it nonetheless is more proof for the authenticity of a cloth most atheistic/secular scientists and plain ol’ bores have been trying to “debunk” for decades.
It was with interest the way the media has portrayed this new discovery.
To say confusion reigns is the proverbial understatement.
The reporting can leave one believing that an entirely different “face” has been discovered, thereby disputing the authenticity of the cloth.
Another impression the media left was that the finding could perhaps lead one to believe that artistic efforts were involved.
Wrong on both accounts!
The simple Truth is that this new Image discovered on the cloth is nothing more than another impression of the Lord brought out ONLY by sophisticated digital processing.
Another impression waiting for new scientific equipment to discover it!
In other words, without this advanced image-processing technique, one would not be able to see anything of this secondary facial imprint!
This scientific fact alone proves no human — especially one in the Middle Ages — could have “created” the Image we see today on the cloth!
While this new discovery has not yet been fully understood, there are several things that are apparent immediately.
To understand them, let’s look at some facts:
* The Image of the Holy Face we are all familiar with does not reside on the “front” of the cloth as the media misinterprets.
* It actually resides only on the inside of the cloth, the frontal Image of the Shroud.
* This is the most intense Image on the Shroud because the Face of Christ — of all bodily parts — was resting the closest to the fibers of the cloth.
* The new secondary Image of the Face that has been discovered during the restoration of the Shroud in 2002 is actually residing on the outside of the frontal imprints on the cloth.
* It is extremely distorted because it is not residing on top of the Face as the inside fibers of the cloth are, and therefore, these fibers on the outside of the cloth have not been as intensely affected by the Image-making process as those fibers on the inside of the Shroud. In reality, one can call it a “secondary” or “mirror” Image.
* This is proven by the fact that the only other Image discovered by this new digital image-processing technique accomplished in 2002 centers around the Hands of Christ.
* Like the Face, they, too, are closest to the fibers of the cloth.
* Other areas of the Body are not Imaged in this new discovery because they remain distant from the cloth itself. (Will a more intense study reveal the knees, which also are as close as the Hands and Face?)
* This discovery of a secondary facial Image is perfectly consistent with the concepts of Dr. John Jackson, a professor of physics today at the University of Colorado, who, as a captain in the U.S. Air Force teaching physics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, headed the original 1978 Shroud of Turin Research Project.
* Dr. Jackson, along with the rest of his incredible team, not only discovered that the Shroud was not a painting, but that the Image was somehow formed when fibers in the cloth were dehydrated and oxidized — rapidly aged — in a process science does not understand nor can duplicate.
* Jackson noted that the Image on the Shroud was more intense where bodily parts rested against the cloth as opposed to those further away; i.e., the thighs vs. the Face.
* Jackson theorized that if the molecules of the Body actually went through the cloth and thereby created the Image we see today, a secondary Image of far less quality would have been recorded on the cloth; one that would need sophisticated image-processing equipment to detect.
* The independent discovery of the lesser quality Image of the Holy Face on the outside of the cloth’s frontal fibers appears to confirm this.
* Indeed, the new finding proves that even this distorted 3D-like Image resides only on the topmost fibers — 1/500th of an inch, the very root of one’s hair — on this ancient and mysterious linen. Another proof that this is not “paint”!
While others in the media may not comprehend the significance of this finding, it is a given that there will be those who will try to use this new evidence to, once again, refute the cloth’s authenticity.
As always, they will be wrong.
And, as always, if one looks at their criticism, one will find myriad reasons and easy solutions to reject and objectively destroy their faithless “opinions.”
The newly discovered distorted Face of our Lord found on the outside fibers of the frontal Image is only more proof that the Shroud is “not made by human hands.”
A verdict reached long ago in the 1st Millennium by those in the Byzantine world who studied the Shroud — a cloth they called the “Mandylion” (Christ’s “Mantle”).
This new discovery on the Shroud only proves that science in the 3rd Millennium is still trying to catch up with the cloth’s 1st-millennium secrets!
For the new discovery is just another informational look at the Holy Face of Jesus as He has shown it to us now in so many ways — from 3D imaging to computer-enhancement of blood flows.
In reality, there remains only one message that this cloth has been trying to impart to mankind since John and Peter found it in the Tomb that first Easter Sunday morning.
And it is no accident that at this critical time of mankind’s history — as we as a creation engage in everything but the worship due our Creator and Redeemer — that the Lord has, once again, chosen to reveal another secret of His burial cloth.
For it is not a secret that the one message the Shroud has for mankind is that
He IS Risen!
© 2004 Agnus Dei Presents!
the Viking mission!
