Pilgrims Crowd Holy Land For Good Friday

Christians Worldwide Mark Day To Commemorate Death Of Jesus Christ

(AP)  Thousands of Christians from all over the world crowded the stone alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City to mark Good Friday, retracing the route Jesus took to his crucifixion.

Some pilgrims carried large wooden crosses as they walked down the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, stopping at 14 stations that commemorate events that befell Jesus as he was led to his death.

Many pilgrims prayed in the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally the site of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Some chanted hymns, while others prostrated themselves on a smooth stone slab marking the spot where Jesus' body was placed after being removed from the cross.

The crowd in one of the Old City's streets included two dozen members of an American church group from Ohio, dressed in white. Eileen Joiner, 43, from Akron, Ohio, said she was moved to be in Jerusalem. "You see a picture and it looks impressive. You see it in person and it's always so much more," she said.

The group's pastor, Janice Skeen, said a recent shooting attack in Jerusalem hadn't deterred them. "You can't escape the feeling and the presence of God here. This is his special land," she said.

The March 6 attack by a Palestinian gunman killed eight young students at a Jewish seminary in the city.

Police said thousands of security personnel were deployed around Jerusalem because of Good Friday and the Jewish festival of Purim, which also falls this weekend. Jews celebrate Purim by dressing up in costumes and reading the Book of Esther, which recounts a victory by the Jews over their enemies in ancient Persia.

At a Purim celebration just outside the walls of the Old City, hundreds of Jewish children dressed up as angels, superheroes and rabbits were entertained by jugglers and clowns.

Police are also on high alert because of fears of a revenge attack for the February assassination of a high-ranking commander in the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel denied involvement, but Hezbollah threatened to avenge his death with an attack on Israeli targets. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the alert level Friday was one below the maximum.

Israel banned West Bank residents from entering Israel for fear militants might carry out attacks, but the closure also meant many Palestinian Christians couldn't make it to Jerusalem.

Samir Helou, an engineering lecturer from east Jerusalem, said there were markedly fewer local Christians in the Old City this year. "We pray every year for a better situation, and then every year becomes worse," he said.

"We pray, but God doesn't have time for us," Helou said.

Other visitors in evidence in Jerusalem hailed from Spain, Poland, the Philippines, Brazil, and several African nations, some wearing traditional costumes.

Anita Ekka, a Catholic nun from Madhya Pradesh, India, said she appealed for an end to conflict. "We pray here for the peace of the world, of the heart and of the mind," she said.

One American visitor, Linda Edwards of Perry, Georgia, said she loved the mix of nationalities but was somewhat put off by the countless vendors hawking postcards and religious trinkets.

If Jesus were here, she said, he would be "turning all the tables over and would get arrested by the police."

[truthword08]

Happy Good Friday everyone, the day our precious Lord and Savior paid the price on the cross for all of our sins so that through His stripes we are healed!

Isaiah 53:5:

5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 John 3:16:

16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.


God Bless Everyone and have a Happy Easter!

[quetzal0666]

disneyLandia in full swing.....

[cantshutup]

religion: the biggest scam ever invented by man

[underdogus]

Quetzal0666...you just keep on worshiping your dead bird........Quetzatlawacka

[quetzal0666]

underdogus ...

and you keep worshipping your dead Jew....

[underdogus]

Jesus Christ: King of Kings, Lord of Lords!!!

[singingrick]

Holly land?! Israel is one of the most God forsaken pieces of real estate on the planet. Too much blood has been spilled for such a place. If God had any mercy at all he would let it fall into the sea.

[singingrick]

I wish that so-called Christians would just take Jesus down from that cross. They''ve had him hanging up there for two thousand years! What kind of nuts make their religious symbol a man nailed to a tree with blood dripping down his body?

[singingrick]

If Israel is such "holly land" then why has there been so much blood shed, human suffering, and tragedy there? People have been fighting over that God-forsaken piece of real estate for thousands of years. If the entire planet is not holly then no place is.

[quetzal0666]

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.%u201D
Mahatma Gandhi

[quetzal0666]

Faith... Must be enforced by reason...When faith becomes blind it dies.%u201D
Mahatma Gandhi.

[quetzal0666]

I believe in the fundamental Truth of all the great religions of the world. I believe that they are all God given. I came to the conclusion long ago... that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them.%u201D
Mahatma Gandhi

[notblue]

So singingrik, cut through the crapp and please tell us all what point your trying to make.

[hungry1968]

Jesus Christ: King of Kings, Lord of Lords!!!

Posted by underdogus at 12:55 PM : Mar 21, 2008




He was murdered by the actions of his father. Apparently the big man doesn''t like competition in your bizarre little religion.

[hungry1968]

Holly land?! Israel is one of the most God forsaken pieces of real estate on the planet. Too much blood has been spilled for such a place. If God had any mercy at all he would let it fall into the sea.

Posted by singingrick at 01:00 PM : Mar 21, 2008





They''ve been saying for years that California was going to fall into the sea during a major earthquake. (It''s obviously not going to really happen.)

But can you imagine if an earthquake hit Israel and it fell into the Mediterranean?

WOW!! What a blow to every religious freak in the world that would be - christians, jews, and muslims alike!!!

[zootallures2]

Jesus told me to tell you that he only wants Arabs and Isaelites to visit. No western ret*rds, unless you come to kill the Ashkenazi pigs smelling up the once beautiful landscape. Or at least take them home with you before he gets up and does it himself.

[zootallures2]

At a Purim celebration just outside the walls of the Old City, hundreds of Jewish children dressed up as angels, superheroes and rabbits were entertained by jugglers and clowns.

So, you took the children to watch a session of the Knesset?

[gkc99]

And let''s not forget the real reason for Easter--the pagan goddess of the dawn. And the spring equinox.

The ancient holiday was hijacked by the Christians. Kind of like they hijacked so much from other religions.

If Jesus came out of his tomb, he wasn''t dead when they put him in there. Crucification is not a death with a defining moment of death like beheading.

The guy was probably in a coma, then came to. Then the televangelists of the day knew a good thing when they saw it, and promoted the event as magic.

[prinzowhales]

Peace.

[deemsnyd]

I wish that so-called Christians would just take Jesus down from that cross. They''''ve had him hanging up there for two thousand years! What kind of nuts make their religious symbol a man nailed to a tree with blood dripping down his body?

Posted by singingrick at 01:04 PM : Mar 21, 2008


There''s no way to explain it to you to where you would actually understand. You have been blinded.

[forthepeopl1]

TO EVERYONE,

WE THE PEOPLE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SHUT THIS GOVERNMENT DOWN. AND THEIR IS A WAY TO MAKE OUR GOVERNEMNT STOP IN THIER TRACKS..

THE GREAT AMERICAN WALK OUT..THATS RIGHT FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS LIKE A THURSDAY THRU MONDAY..EVERY AMERICAN IN THIS COUNTRY DO NOTHING...I MEAN NOTHING BUT STAY HOME AND ENJOY THE FAMILY. ALL TRUCK,TRAIN,PLAINS,EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO TAKE A FEW SICK DAYS FOR THIS..

IN ONLY A FEW DAYS OF NOTHING MOVEING IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD TELL CONGRESS AND THE WHITEHOUSE WHO REALLY RUNS THIS COUNTRY..THATS US AMERICANS... SO WHEN WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO START THIS..

AND I MEAN IT DONT BUY ANYTHING....DO ANYTHING...DONT GO ANYWERE TO SPEND A DIME...

IT WOULD PUT THIS COUNTRY ON ITS KNEES..LIKE WE SHOULD

the great american STIKE.................

[e-mail]


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

[zootallures2]

In Monotheism it''s supposed to be Passover. That''s why there are two new years. One is for creation(the sun or star of creation) and the other is new or continuing time and space(the cross). But you were too stupid to get it then, and apparently still too stupid now.

[pierson98]

TO EVERYONE,
WE THE PEOPLE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SHUT THIS GOVERNMENT DOWN. AND THEIR IS A WAY TO MAKE OUR GOVERNEMNT STOP IN THIER TRACKS..
THE GREAT AMERICAN WALK OUT..THATS RIGHT FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS LIKE A THURSDAY THRU MONDAY..EVERY AMERICAN IN THIS COUNTRY DO NOTHING...I MEAN NOTHING BUT STAY HOME AND ENJOY THE FAMILY. ALL TRUCK,TRAIN,PLAINS,EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO TAKE A FEW SICK DAYS FOR THIS..
IN ONLY A FEW DAYS OF NOTHING MOVEING IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD TELL CONGRESS AND THE WHITEHOUSE WHO REALLY RUNS THIS COUNTRY..THATS US AMERICANS... SO WHEN WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO START THIS..
AND I MEAN IT DONT BUY ANYTHING....DO ANYTHING...DONT GO ANYWERE TO SPEND A DIME...
IT WOULD PUT THIS COUNTRY ON ITS KNEES..LIKE WE SHOULD
the great american STIKE.................
Posted by forthepeopl1 at 02:34 PM : Mar 21, 2008

-------------

**sigh** Where to even begin?

First of all, your post is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, some of which ("thru") may be due to laziness, but others ("thier") are clearly the result of stupidity.

Secondly, you''ve written in all caps, which is the trademark of childish, attention-seeking post.

But on a more substantive level - why not explain the reasons you''re calling for a strike? How is the strike going to remedy the problems you vaguely hint at? What would be gained by stopping the government in "thier" tracks?

It very much appears that you just want to stay home from school for a few days.

[joyous88]

FOOLS ON PARADE

ALL THE REPUBLiCONS MUST HAVE BEEN THERE

[truthword08]

FOOLS ON PARADE

ALL THE REPUBLiCONS MUST HAVE BEEN THERE
Posted by joyous88

-Don''t get mad at others for your lack of belief, atheist.

You chose your own path.

[joyous88]

gkc99

interesting point, however, it belays that simple fact

that there is no proof that a ''jesus'' ever existed

and that is is anything more than a name for a small

mexican boy

[truthword08]

I wish that so-called Christians would just take Jesus down from that cross. They''''''''ve had him hanging up there for two thousand years! What kind of nuts make their religious symbol a man nailed to a tree with blood dripping down his body?

Posted by singingrick

-He died for our sins on Good Friday, and on Easter Sunday he gloriously rose from the grave. He lives and He shall reign forever and ever.

Trust me, we don''t celebrate Him on the cross, we celebrate that He lives!

If not for what He did on the cross, none of us would have a chance.

But as another poster correctly pointed out, it is impossible for you to understand, because you have been blinded.

[joyous88]

forthepeopl!

great idea, I will sign up

[truthword08]

He was murdered by the actions of his father. Apparently the big man doesn''t like competition in your bizarre little religion.
Posted by hungry1968

He IS the Father. But what would you know, you don''t believe in the Most Wonderful Historical Story ever told anyhow.

Your denial is sad.

[zootallures2]

Peace.

Posted by Prinzowhales at 02:11 PM : Mar 21, 2008

Peace is God. God is Peace. Only aiming to go to God on the Cross can you go to heaven. Jesus was good, he died on the Cross and went to heaven. The Cross is the continuing time and space to prove yourself. You still have time. But it''s kinda supposed to be new years. It goes with the four seasons and the earth isn''t orbiting perfect but fights to right itself so it doesn''t wobble out of control. Jihad. Monotheism only concerned itself with the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Don''t worry about Mars while the Moon pulls the tides.

[truthword08]

religion: the biggest scam ever invented by man
Posted by cantshutup

-You''re right, which is why Christ spoke out against the teachers of Religious law (the Pharisees).

It''s never been about religion, but as another poster pointed out to another lost person on here going by the name of "singingrick" it is impossible to explain to you because you''ve been blinded.

[joyous88]

truthword;
just another right wing tool;
just another religious fool;

you voted for bush did''ent you?

[truthword08]

1 Corinthians 15:17-25:

17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Jesus Christ- The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! The one True and Living God!

1 Corinthians 8:6:
6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.


Have a wonderful Easter season everyone! And remember Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords and He loves you!

[truthword08]

truthword;
just another right wing tool;
just another religious fool;

you voted for bush did''ent you?
Posted by joyous88

-Again, don''t blame others for your lack of belief, you''ve been blinded. And this has nothing to do with Bush.

You''re actually allot more religious than I am. It takes a ton of more faith to be an atheist than it does to believe in the Lord.

You''re placing all of your marbles on the fact that you think your life is nothing more than a meaningless accident and that all intelligent life sprang into existence out of nothing millions of year ago simply by pure chance.

If I were you, I''d rethink that stance really long and hard my friend. But as another poster said, there''s nothing that can be said to non-believers, because you have been blinded.

Only the Holy Spirit can remove the blinders, but you have to let Him in.

That is all.

[zootallures2]

-You''''re right, which is why Christ spoke out against the teachers of Religious law (the Pharisees).

Posted by TruthWord08 at 03:12 PM : Mar 21, 2008

It is not a law. God already made all the laws. Even the Quran is a WARNING... the Prophets are just telling you. How can you take a test if I force you to write down the answers I want or someone else wants you to write. People make laws for the obvious and another''s right to do God''s work. If someone is sinning with out bothering others, that''s their problem. Your laws are up to you. The 10 commandments are from Eqypt or Sumaria. The 10 from Moses goes with 9 out of 10 doctors. Moses is the 10th doctor who won''t sell you the Ronco snake oil.

[singingrick]

I wish that so-called Christians would just take Jesus down from that cross. They''''ve had him hanging up there for two thousand years! What kind of nuts make their religious symbol a man nailed to a tree with blood dripping down his body? Didn''t Jesus rise from the dead? Why not depict him rising into the sky or something?

[truthword08]

It is not a law. God already made all the laws. Even the Quran is a WARNING
posted by zootallures2

-Jesus Christ is the answer. He is Lord.

The Quran is a false teaching.

When you accept Christ as your personal Savior, the law lives within your heart, because Christ paid the punishment for all of our sins on the Cross. He made the New Covenant between God and man for the forgiveness of our sins, because He is perfect, and He is Lord.

And He warned that many false prophets would come.

The Bible also warned about people who changed the words and developed their own books (like the Quran) and false teachings contradicting the Bible:

Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

Revelation 22:7:

Jesus Is Coming
7"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."


Zootallures2. May I humbly suggest you get on your knees and pray for the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life.

You won''t regret it. Trust me. He will set you free.

[truthword08]

Zootallure2,

Here is a website containing the testimonies of dozens of former Middle Eastern Muslims who came to know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. I am certain you will be able to find one of these testimonies helpful as these people used to share your belief system:

http://www.muslimjourneytohope.com/watch.asp

Please consider wathing the testimonies. They are powerful.

KNow that God loves you. That you don''t have to try to "earn" your way into paradise because we''re all sinners and only through Christ can we be forgiven of our sins, not of our works:

Ephesians 2:8-9:

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith%u2014and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God%u2014 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

[truthword08]

Didn''t Jesus rise from the dead?
posted by singingrick

-Indeed He did sir, and He shall reign forever and ever. The Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, the Savior for all mankind. The Messiah.

[zootallures2]

Zootallure2,

Here is a website containing the testimonies of dozens of former Middle Eastern Muslims who came to know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.

Posted by TruthWord08 at 03:33 PM : Mar 21, 2008

All Muslims should know Jesus as their Savior, along with Muhammad and all the rest of the Prophets. Even Isaac is a Prophet of Islam. But you should read the Quran so you can understand your Bible better.

"We bring you this book in your language so that you may understand." ... It really works too. For a guy who couldn''t read or write, Muhammad was an absolute genius. And then you will see genius of Jesus too. No matter what they wrote, you cannot get them out of the pen anymore than anyone can get them out of anything. A miricle indded.

[quetzal0666]

All Religions have truth, and all have Failures as well,
Politicizing your Religion, only leads to failure of it as a whole because it breaks that which it claims to do.......

[truthword08]

All Muslims should know Jesus as their Savior
posted by zootallures2

-If they knew Jesus as their Savior, they wouldn''t be Muslims, they''d be Christians.

The Quran doesn''t depict Jesus as the Lord and Savior of the world, it demotes Him to just a prophet, and not the Lord God of all, who He is clearly referenced as in the Word of Truth, the Bible, and who He claimed to be in His own Words.

But you should read the Quran so you can understand your Bible better.
posted by zootallures2

-The Quran is false zootallures2, and I have read many parts of it. Again, Jesus warned of false prophets.

I know it may hurt your feelings, but your religion is wrong.

Again I highly suggest you visit that link I provided which contains the testimonies of dozens of former Muslims who thought the same way you do, who came to know Christ.

Take care.

[zootallures2]

All Religions have truth, and all have Failures as well,
Politicizing your Religion, only leads to failure of it as a whole because it breaks that which it claims to do.......

Posted by Quetzal0666 at 03:48 PM : Mar 21, 2008

Well, George Washington believed in a good creator and unlike goofy Bush, an axis of good to try to stick too. He rejected having Masons who compensated for bad deeds, there ms. 666. All religions that were on an axis of good were the same. Like fighting the waves on a ship to steer it to good. The earth''s four seasons are the planet struggling to stay in the best orbit with out wobbling out of control. In Arabic it''s called Jihad. The earth doesn''t fight the other planets to keep it''s orbit. It just struggles to balance it''s self. Jihad is struggling to stay in the middle of the Cross like the earth''s four seasons.

[zootallures2]

demotes Him to just a prophet,
-The Quran is false zootallures2, and I have read many parts of it. Again, Jesus warned of false prophets.

I know it may hurt your feelings, but your religion is wrong.

Take care.

Posted by TruthWord08 at 03:58 PM : Mar 21, 2008

Demotes? Anything inside the universe cannot be God himself. Only what he asks or commands. If Jesus was God and came anywhere in the universe it would stop. You could no longer count to infinity because he would bring in the answer. God asks you, so you have to bring it to him. Mohammad is not a false Prophet and Jesus never mentioned that he was or would be.

And if you aren''t even from the line of the Abraham, why would I listen to you? All you bozos do is come to kill Jesus ancestors to steal oil.

[zootallures2]

Jesus rising to Heaven is symbolic, because as anyone who has gone up in the air, (or space), knows, there is nothing to see in the atmosphere, but clouds.

Posted by Benst1 at 04:27 PM : Mar 21, 2008

No one on earth has gone to heaven yet. Not until after the end times. But when you die, there is no time, like before you were born. The Cross... I won''t bother explaining explaining that again. You will stick to your magic. Jesus loved people so much? No he loved God so much and therefore what he created. And it was John who got executed.

[zootallures2]

Jesus rising to Heaven is symbolic, because as anyone who has gone up in the air, (or space), knows, there is nothing to see in the atmosphere, but clouds.

Posted by Benst1 at 04:27 PM : Mar 21, 2008

And ... nothing to see? If you can''t see anything up there, you''ll see less down here. The Prophets going up on moutains was to see and feel the knowledge and power of God. It''s humbling as opposed to an idiot who feels power on a thrown.

[truthword08]

Demotes? Anything inside the universe cannot be God himself
posted by zootallures2

-Jesus is God zootallures2. God became a man, and died for your sins on the cross. I don''t know why you''re fighting God''s love, but to each his own:

1 John 3:16:

16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

John 1:1-13:

John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

[zootallures2]

You can only get to heaven on your own power. You have to want to be with God and light enough to get there. Your wanting to be with God and just a soul with as little material as possible. Hell is easy. Let go and gravity will take you there.

[zootallures2]

To get to Heaven

Everytime you sin your engine loses fuel, everytime you want, your ship gains weight.

[yongamerica]

Heaven and God and Jesus are the figments of some tripping goat herders suffering from a hot sun and lack of water.