Doug Lyon
Senior Pastor
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
~Acts 2:24
Many businesses and organizations have been closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, church buildings have temporarily shut their doors. This is true not only at Shiloh in Bloomsburg but also at a well-known church in Jerusalem.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is built over the traditional location where Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. Every year, millions of tourists and pilgrims flock to visit this place where Christ’s passion and resurrection occurred.
On March 25, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed its doors for the first time since the Bubonic Plague which ravaged the city of Jerusalem in 1349. For over a month now, the doors to the famous Jerusalem structure have been shuttered due to COVID-19. The church averages 80,000 visitors during Holy Week, but none were able to enter during this Easter holiday.
This reminds me of another time the Israeli religious leaders and government officials closed the grave of Jesus. It happened 2,000 years ago, and they posted guards so no one would enter the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66). However, it didn’t remain closed. Jesus became alive again—He rose from the dead. Praise the Lord that death could not hold Him! We serve a risen Savior!
I look forward to the time when the doors at Shiloh will reopen, and we can gather together and fellowship around the Scripture.
Until then, l am grateful for the opportunity to connect with our Shiloh family through social media and to share the Word of God with you Sunday mornings on our church website (visit shilohbiblechurchbloomsburg.org).