I am so proud of my Savior, Jesus Christ. So proud.
Good Friday
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Category Archives: Christianity
Maundy Thursday
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hematidrosis (also called hematohidrosis) is a very rare condition in which a human being sweats blood. It may occur when a person is suffering extreme levels of stress, for example, facing his or her own death. Several historical references have been described; notably by Leonardo da Vinci: describing a soldier who sweated blood before battle, men unexpectedly given a death sentence, as well as descriptions in the Bible, that Jesus experienced hematidrosis when he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44).
Cutaneous hemorrhage
According to Dr. Frederick Zugibe (former Chief Medical Examiner of Rockland County, New York) it is well-known, and there have been many cases of it. The clinical term is hematohidrosis. “Around the sweat glands, there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form. Under the pressure of great stress the vessels constrict. Then as the anxiety passes the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood goes into the sweat glands. As the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface – coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.”
In a lecture, Dr. Zugibe stated: “The severe mental anxiety…activated the sympathetic nervous system to invoke the stress-fight or flight reaction to such a degree causing hemorrhage of the vessels supplying the sweat glands into the ducts of the sweat glands and extruding out onto the skin. While hematidrosis has been reported to occur from other rare medical entities, the presence of profound fear accounted for a significant number of reported cases including six cases in men condemned to execution, a case occurring during the London blitz, a case involving a fear of being raped, a fear of a storm while sailing, etc. The effects on the body is that of weakness and mild to moderate dehydration from the severe anxiety and both the blood and sweat loss.”
Another effect is that the skin becomes extremely tender and fragile, so that any pressure or damage to the skin is more than ordinarily painful.
Holy Week
I love Easter. I mean, I really love it. I love Easter the way most people love Christmas.
Palm Sunday. Gethsemane. The cross. Blood, blood, blood, and the sin of the world on His shoulders.
And then Easter morning comes, and HE LIVES, and EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW. Such a mighty victory– one that turned the ugliest thing (the cross) into this incredibly BEAUTIFUL picture of salvation.
Here is something I have wondered. You know how sick you feel over the weekend when you know you have a terrible Monday ahead of you– maybe it’s a presentation, or you have to have a hard conversation with a co-worker, or you have to face your poor sales figures once again? The anticipation is terrible, gut-wrenching, so ugly.
My question is this: how could Jesus know about the cross from all eternity and survive such a weight of knowledge? I imagine it was almost a relief when Judas finally stepped into the garden and kissed His cheek.
I am so proud of my God.
brokenness
After we watched the Blue Like Jazz screening, my former writing professor Judy and I went to the St. Clair Broiler for some late-night breakfast and conversation.
A few things you should know about Judy: she is brilliant, a gifted writer and teacher, and she loves Jesus very much and connects with him in lovely and unique ways like Taizé and lectio divina.
One thing she said to me over pancakes and French toast was this: “Some people hold their brokenness at arm’s length. Some people embrace their brokenness. And some people celebrate their brokenness.”
That’s what I want to do– celebrate my brokenness. I am not ashamed of my obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Lord’s power is perfected in my weakness. His grace is sufficient.
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).
How about you?
Christian media
Last Friday I had an adventure with my former writing professor Judy. We went to Macalester College to meet Donald Miller, the author of Blue Like Jazz, one of my favorite books, and watch a special pre-screening of Blue Like Jazz: The Movie.
The movie was very well done, a fictionalized account of Miller’s time at Reed College in Portland, Oregon– a story about a young Christian who is stepping away from his faith and trying his hand at life. I loved that it didn’t shy away from any tough issues. The movie was gritty and raw and real, and I encourage everyone to go see it on April 13th.
Steve Taylor, the movie’s director, was at the event as well, and he introduced the film by saying, “Since when did ‘Christian’ come to mean ‘family-friendly’?” He pointed out that the Bible itself contained stories that kids might not be old enough to hear.
When I think of Christian movies, I think of cheesy, overdone movies with bad acting and fairytale endings. When I think of Christian books, I think of poorly written, G-rated romance novels with unbelievable, over-the-top conversion scenes and lots of scenes where the protagonist “happens to” come across a Bible verse directly suited to her situation. No thanks.
Writing about Jesus is tricky, let me tell you. How do you write about an eternal God who supernaturally reaches into people’s chests and grips their hearts without sounding insane? How do you write about spiritual experiences in a way that people who do not love God can come along for the ride?
I think this movie is going to be a big step in the right direction. Check out the trailer here. Let me know your thoughts on all this!
JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 