The Redeemer on a Receipt?



Some time ago, Yahoo!’s Odd News featured an alleged image of Christ mysteriously appearing on a Wal-Mart receipt: “[In] his most recent appearance, Jesus is showing that even the son of the Big Man has economic issues on the brain… Jacob Simmons and Gentry Lee Sutherland had just returned home from church (interesting connection, no?), and found what looked like the face of Christ BURNED into the receipt.”

 Yet, depending on who’s looking at the image, opinions vary whether it looks like Jesus or Charles Manson or Bin laden. One comment reads, “Kinda creepy. Why does everyone assume it’s always Jesus?” Noting that heat can create that image on a receipt, Odd News lead anchor Greg Proops quipped, “Ironic that heat can create a picture of someone dedicated to keeping people away from warm places… The retail giant offers a lot of coupons and many consider Jesus [as] the ultimate redeemer.” (Ibid) 
Diana Duyser with her "miraculous" cheese sandwich. Image source: http://www.smh.com.au/
Many years ago, after taking a bite off a grilled cheese sandwich, Diana Duyser “saw a face staring back at her… She said the sandwich has never sprouted a spore of mold.” (Associated Press) The 10-year old stale bread with a supposed image of the Virgin Mary made a lot of bread for Duyser after she sold it for US$28K on eBay. An online casino placed the winning bid and “planned to use the sandwich to raise money for charity.” (Ibid) 
Image source: SunSentinel

Relics prove that people want to walk by sight and not by faith. Another comment on the supposed “holy receipt” goes like this, “It’s sad that people are so desperate for something to fill their lives that they see whatever they wish to see in everything from tree trunks to frog skins to receipts.”

But true faith rests on God’s revelation, not on relics. After showing convincing proofs that He indeed rose from the dead, our Lord Jesus told Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29, ESV) After recounting how he witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and heard the voice of God the Father, Peter wrote, “And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place” (1 Peter 1:19, ESV). The Scripture is surer than anything else. We don’t need to run after relics. We can rely on His Word. God’s Word is sufficient for faith and life “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”(2 Corinthians 5:7)

My take? Focus on the revealed Word, not on any relics.

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