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- [Wendy] This week onChristian World News,
catastrophe in Paris, shock and horror
as flames consume thehistoric Notre Dame Cathedral.
The main structure saved but what happens
to priceless artifacts inside?
- [George] Plus, Jesuson trial before Pilate.
Could this be the sitewhere the Roman leader
washed his hands and condemnedthe son of God to death?
- [Wendy] And the finalhours of Jesus Christ
as told by a medical professional.
This expert reveals whatChrist endured on the cross.
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- Hello everyone welcometo this week's edition
of Christian WorldNews, I'm George Thomas.
- And I'm Wendy Griffith.
We begin with acatastrophic fire in France.
Shock and dismay as flamesconsume the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The famous spire that marks theParis skyline toppling over.
Crowds on the street in tears and prayer
as they watched the historic church burn.
Today the sacred site stands in tact
and France's presidentis promising to rebuild.
- [Heather] Parisiansare mourning Notre Dame
and cheering their firefighters.
This incredible video releasedby the Paris Fire Brigade
shows the heroic operation
that eventually savedpart of the cathedral.
- This is shocking beyond shocking.
- Investigators are nowsearching for a cause.
They've ruled out arson andbelieve the restoration work
may be to blame.
The Paris prosecutor says aninitial fire alert sounded
at 6:20 p.m. on Mondaybut no fire was found.
A second alert went off 23 minutes later
and the blaze was thendiscovered on the roof.
- [Interpreter] The cathedralis government property
and President Macron pledged to rebuild
an even more beautiful building.
He said a five year plan is possible
although not everyone agrees.
Donations and pledges are pouring in,
close to a billion U.S. dollars so far.
On a spiritual level,the loss is immeasurable.
- For the French, my God for the world,
Notre Dame Cathedralrepresents what's most noble,
what's most uplifting,what's most inspirational
about the human project.
And to see that reducedto ashes, my oh my,
I remember our song fromthe ashes we rise up.
We had Ash Wednesday, we wannarise up with Jesus at Easter
and I believe that there'll besome rising from this dying.
- [Heather] And the timing is stunning,
the day after Palm Sundaywith Easter approaching.
Many believers wonder, could this loss
lead to a spiritual reawakening.
The Dean of Regent University Seminary
told CBN News this couldprovide France an opportunity
to refocus on it's Christian heritage.
- We sometimes think of Franceas an ex-Christian country
but I do not think weshould make that mistake.
There are deep Christian roots there
and the story is not finished yet.
- [Heather] Heather Sells, CBN News.
- Thank you, Heather.
Ed Condon is D.C. BureauChief of Catholic News Agency
joins us now by Skype.
First off, what's the lateston the cause of the fire
and the plans to rebuild?
- Well, the latest is we stilldon't know what the cause
of the fire was.
We had numerous architectural experts
and engineers in Francewho've been commenting
on how unusual it was that the fire
was able to spread so quickly.
We know that the fire beganin the area of the roof
around the spire whererenovation work was due to begin
but it doesn't appear that that work
was actually underway atthe time the fire broke out.
So, there are questionsabout what caused it,
we're still not sure.
And after a blaze likethis it will take some time
to shift through the literalashes and piece it together.
But the most importantthing right now I think
is that the main structureof the cathedral is in tact.
That rebuilding is not only possible
but will be undertaken andthe fundraising efforts
are off to an astronomical start.
- Absolutely.- Close to a billion euros.
- Yeah, it's quite stunninghow much people have given.
What can you tell us about the relics
and the historic artwork inside.
Tell us a little aboutthose and did they survive?
- Well, it's actually almost miraculous,
the extents in which thecontents of the cathedral
were saved or preserved evenif they didn't make it out.
One of the priests of the cathedral
who I think was the only priest inside
when the fire was discovered was able
to save the most importantrelics, first of all
the blessed sacrament from the tabernacle
and also the crown of thorns which is
perhaps the most well knownrelic housed in the cathedral.
And then there was aneffective human chain
of clergy and fire fightersworking while the roof
was on fire to remove statues, relics,
important liturgicalitems from the cathedral
which was then taken firstto the city hall in Paris
and then to the Louvre for safe keeping.
But even some of thetreasures that are immovable
within the cathedral survived.
The three iconic rose windows,
everyone essentially wroteit off as destroyed for sure
but it turns out they've all survived.
One of the remarkable thingsthat happened yesterday was
on top of the spire whicheveryone saw the footage
of it dramatically collapsingwas a rooster weather vane
and a lightning rod, a copper rooster,
which is of course,
the sort informalnational symbol of France
Inside of which was arelic of one of the thorns
from the crown of thornsand also the relics
of two French saints, that wasconsidered to be surely lost
as this spire collapsed into the flames.
But it was found intact, dented and bruised
but still there.
- You were talking Edabout the human chain
for folks who were individual.
We understand heroic priests helped save
some of those artifacts.
What can you tell us about his background?
- Well, he seems to bequite a remarkable fellow.
This priest has also turned up
at the site of terrorist attacks in France
offering prayer and blessingsand last rite sacraments
to victims of terror attacks.
It's my understanding heserved as an inactive duty
as a military chaplainand he gave a very sort of
poignant interview in which he spoke about
being alone in the cathedral as it burned
carrying the blessed sacramentand offering us a prayer
for the cathedral and to God
that he would help preserve his house.
- Wow, incredible.
And the timing of this isextraordinary as it happens
during holy week.
Could this present an opportunity
for the Christian Church in France?
- I hope so, I hope itwill provide an opportunity
not just for the Christian faith in France
but for the wider communityof the French nation
and also for Europe to really
recognize the precious treasuresof their Christian heritage
in their midst and it'svery often the case
that we don't tend tovalue what we see everyday
but I think a lot of what wesaw in the flames overnight
on Monday was with thepeople of Paris coming out
and really deeplyunderstanding their connection
to this building which wasbuilt really to honor God
and to anchor the nation in the faith.
- Yeah, Ed, thank youso much for joining us
on the broadcast, EdCondon, D.C. Bureau Chief
for the Catholic News Agency.
Thanks for your insight sir.
- Thank you.- You're welcome.
- [Wendy] Great interview, well coming up
it's one of the mostfamous scenes in the Bible,
Jesus on trial before Pilate.
See the site where somebelieve it happened.
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- [Narrator] CBN presentsThe I Wills of God,
Your Path to Overcoming Fear and Anxiety.
- We're going to talk about some
of the incredible promisesGod has made to his children.
- [Narrator] In PatRobertson's newest teaching,
you'll discover The I Wills of God.
I will rescue him,protect him, answer him,
be with him in trouble,deliver him, honor him,
satisfy him with longlife, show him my salvation
and see amazing stories ofGod's promises in action.
- What I felt was loved and treasured.
- God spared my life twice in three days.
- The good Lord hadgive me a second chance.
- [Narrator] Break freefrom stress and despair.
- [Pat] The Lord doesn'twant you to live in fear
but to know the rewardsgiven to those who love God.
- [Narrator] Call1-800-700-7000 or visit cbn.com.
The I Wills of God, Your Path
to Overcoming Fear and Anxiety.
- [Terry] Remember for amoment what it was like
to be a child.
You believed every story you were told.
You saw a world full ofendless possibilities.
What stories will the world's orphaned
and at risk children believe?
We believe the Bible tells the only story
truly worth believing.
We believe that every childshould have the opportunity
to dream, the chance to take challenges
and turn them into possibilities.
The chance to stand onthe promises of God,
to recognize their place inthe greatest story ever told.
They have their whole lives ahead of them.
Theirs is a world ofendless possibilities.
They are looking for a story to believe.
We will tell them that story.
Will you join us?
(laughing)
- And welcome back to the broadcast.
Christians from all overthe world come to Israel
during holy week.
- As Chris Mitchell shows usone of the main attractions
is an area where manybelieve John the Baptist
baptized Jesus.
- [Chris] For Christians beingbaptized in the Jordan River
is a profound spiritual experience.
- Because it's my dreamand Jesus was baptized here
and we were as blessed.
- I feel like I birth againbecause Jesus was baptized here.
- [Chris] The site iscalled Qasr el Yahud.
Israel developed this sitefor Christian pilgrims
and now about three-quarters
of a million people visit here each year.
While there's no proofthis is the exact location
of the baptism of Jesus,it remains a special place.
- I read the Bible, I preach the Bible
and for us to be here and to actually
experience it firsthandit sort of underscores
and affirms what they hear week after week
as we present God's word to the people.
- This is the area where some people
believe the prophet Elijahascended into heaven
in a fiery chariot andwhere the children of Israel
crossed over the River Jordaninto the Promised Land.
- [Chris] Tour guide, BenDavid Katriel gives two reasons
why this might be the areaJoshua brought the Israelites
on their way to Jericho.
- There are passages in theJordan, places that are easier
to pass, that never changesand that's topography
but except that we haveJericho that is no argument
about the location of Jericho.
- Actually, this is the first(speaks in foreign language)
that took place, this is a combination
where the Bible, thestories of the Bible meet.
- [Chris] Retired general UziDayan says the Jewish people
return here from Egyptmore than 3,000 years ago.
Three millennial later,Jews are still returning
to the land of Israel whereyou can see biblical prophecies
come to life.
- This can happen onlyhere, you can't do that
in any other country in the world
and if you believe in the book,
so Israel is the best place for that.
- Come make this part of your plans
'cause this'll enrichyour faith and deepen
your devotion to Jesus whichis what it's all about.
- [Chris] For many it'sespecially meaningful,
just before the celebration
of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Chris Mitchell, Qasr elYahud baptismal site,
the Jordan River.- Terrific.
A set of stairs thatJesus might have climbed
before his crucifixion isbeing unveiled in Rome.
ABC News reports that28 steps are known as
(speaks in foreignlanguage) or holy stairs.
They are believed to be part
of Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem.
And the very same stepsthat Jesus ascended
before he was tried andsentenced to crucifixion
by the Roman governor.
The stairs were shipped toRome in the fourth century
by Emperor Constantine'smother St. Helena.
The restoration of the stepscomes just in time for Easter.
- The site of Jesus' trialis still in question.
Today we take you to oneof the possible locations
inside the walls of the old city.
It's a place where there are 2,000 years
of recorded history.
And as John Waage shows us,
it's where some believe Pontius Pilate
sentenced Jesus to death.
- [John] At the westernedge of the old city,
the Tower of David stands above the walls.
16 years ago, archeologistsfound the building
while working on theTower of David Museum.
Records on it's walls go backeven before the time of Jesus
and the Roman governor whosentenced him to the cross,
Pontius Pilate.
For years, experts suggested that Pilate
handed down his death sentencefrom Antonia's Fortress
on the other side of the city
where the Roman soldiers were housed.
But recent evidence uncovered here
at the site of King Herod's palace
indicates that the luxury loving Pilate
was more likely to havepronounced judgment here.
Archeologists Amit Re'emdiscovered the palace site in 1999.
He's familiar with thehistory on these walls
from Herod's time until theBritish put a prison on it
in the 1940's.
- We do not know what happenedto the super structures,
to the palace itself.
Maybe it was destroyed in the big revolt.
Maybe it was destroyed by the Romans.
Maybe it was destroyed bythe Crusaders or the Ottoman.
- [John] David Pileggi ispastor of Christ's Church
just steps away from the site.
- We know that the palace
of Herod the Great eventuallybecame Roman property
after Herod's death and thatevery year Pontius Pilate
would come from Caesarea to Jerusalem here
during the time of Passover
to oversee the security ofthe city during the festival
that the Jews called the Feast of Freedom.
- [John] Israeli archeologist Renee Silvan
is still struck by it's power and opulence
even though she helped begin the digging.
- It was almost like an onion.
You peel it, peel it,peel it and it never end
but then you cry a bit but not too much
that is what happens here.
- [John] Pileggi calls theTower of David the best museum
in the city and saystourists would do well
to start their journey here.
- Now we have the extra bonusof having the very place
where Jesus was sent toexecution by Pontius Pilate
and this will helpChristians better visualize
those monumentous events thathappened to Jesus the messiah,
Jesus of Nazareth in thelast week of his life.
- [John] And just a couple of miles away,
the Mount of Olives wherescripture says he'll come again.
John Wagee, CBN News, Jerusalem.
- [George] Up next, death by crucifixion.
Our medical expertsdescribe the final hours
of Christ's life and what he suffered.
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- [Narrator] It's about the competition.
- I kinda put that pressure on myself
and I think people had expectations.
- [Narrator] It's about overcoming.
- We use this phrase allthe time, keep chopping,
keep practicing hard.
- [Narrator] It's aboutgoing the distance.
- You know I think as a father it's my job
to lead, just be the besthusband and father I can be.
- [Narrator] Watch Going the Distance
with Shawn Brown Saturday night at 7:30
on the CBN Newschannel.
- Woo hoo, hi Superbook fans.
Here's something else you'll love.
(laughs)(hollers)
It's the new Superbook Bible app.
It's packed with games,activities and Superbook episodes
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Oh no!
There's trivia, a fun daily devotional
and answers to your Bible questions plus,
an easy to understand Biblethe whole family will enjoy.
You can even create yourown Superbook character.
Ta-da, whoa!
Sorry, pardon me, sorry, excuse me, ouch!
- [Reporter] Are you getting this?
- Earn super points towin daily prizes too
and so much more!
Time to get back to my adventures.
See you soon.
It's the new Superbook Bible app.
Free downloads on iTunes,Google Play and Amazon.
- [Narrator] Discover The I Wills of God.
I will rescue him,protect him, answer him,
be with him in trouble,deliver him, honor him,
satisfy him with long life,show him my salvation.
- What I felt was loved and treasured.
- God spared my life twice in three days.
- The good Lord hadgiven me a second chance.
- [Narrator] Call1-800-700-7000 or visit cbn.com.
The I Wills of God, the latestteaching from Pat Robertson.
- Jesus said there's no greater love
than laying down yourlife for someone else.
He lived out those wordsby sacrificing himself
for all mankind.
- Now a new book providesa detailed medical account
of the crucifixion to help us understand
just what Jesus suffered for our sake.
Paul Strand reports.
- We Christians all know Jesusdied for us on the cross.
But as doctors studiedcrucifixion for a decade
says until you understand whatJesus went through medically
it's hard to fully appreciatejust how much he suffered
to pay for our sins.
- It was the worse form ofdeath that was imaginable
and the Romans had beenusing it for three centuries
by the time Jesus came alongso it was well perfected.
- [Paul] Dr. Joseph Bergeronwrote The Crucifixion of Jesus.
- Most often on Easter we hear talks about
how Jesus suffocatedwhile he was on the cross.
- [Paul] Bergeron,however, says suffocation
doesn't gel with thegospel accounts of Jesus
talking on the cross.
- When you're suffocating and struggling
for your last breathe,you have no interest
in carrying out a conversation.
- [Paul] The real cause ofhis death first shows up
in Christ's own propheticwords of the Last Supper.
- Jesus told us how he was gonna die.
He said this is my blood which is
poured out for the remission of sins.
That's not suffocation,that's bleeding to death.
That's shock, that's thecomplications of shock.
- [Paul] That would be one explanation
for the odd occurrenceof Jesus sweating blood
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- There are very few reportedcases, just a handful
and they're always before severe injury,
the threat of injury andusually before execution.
So that Jesus sweatdrops of blood meant that
he fully understood whatwas about to happen to him.
- [Paul] And then it began,
the Jews and Romansbludgeoned and tore his flesh
in two viscous beatings.
- Caiaphas and the Sanhedrinconvicted him of blasphemy
which was punishable by death.
- [Paul] But under Roman rulethe Jews had no authority
to execute so they physicallyand brutally punished him.
Then a whole company of Roman soldiers
beat Jesus nearly to death.
- They were anti-Semitic andfor this person who's charge
was basically a political insurrection,
naming himself the king of the Jews
would have heightened their anger
so his beating exceeded what was typical
for a crucifixion victimsand had extensive blood loss
and tissue injury from that.
- [Paul] So the shock set inbefore he reached calvary.
- It looked like he wasbeginning to experience shock
just walking therebecause he couldn't carry
part of the cross to the crucifixion site.
He would have been expected to do that.
Everybody else did but he could not.
- [Paul] Then came justabout the most painful
and humiliating executionthe Romans could administer.
- It was consideredobscene a Roman citizen
wouldn't even ever be crucified.
It was meant for politicalinsurgence ranked criminals
and escaped slaves.
- It all punished Jesus'body was shocked so traumatic
as to kill him hours soonerthan most people crucified.
Bergeron says shock wouldstop Christ' blood clotting
and kill him in just six hours.
- This is a very ominous complication,
difficult to control evenin modern trauma centers.
In Jesus' time there would be no treatment
and it would lead to rapid death.
And it explains why Jesus died so rapidly.
- [Paul] Rapidly but horribly.
Which leaves Bergeronin awe of the sacrifice.
- That he would become a human being
and come here and do thatto rectify our relationship
as humans with God, toredefine it and restore us
to fellowship with God,it's an amazing thing.
- [Paul] And on that cross,Jesus Christ showed how simple
it is to find salvation in him.
- It's like the thief on the cross,
he didn't know what to saysaid just please remember me.
And the sincere prayer fromanyone is never turned away.
And Jesus told him that hewould be in paradise that day.
- Bergeron realizes it's toughto face all the gory details
of Christ' death but it canmake us love and respect
all the more, a God willingto come down to earth
and face such pain and agonyso people could be cleansed
from their sins andspend eternity with him.
Paul Strand, CBN News Washington.
- Thanks so much Paul,perfect story for Easter week.
Well for more stories just like this go
to our website cbnnews.com.
We'll be right back.
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- [Narrator] As the worldwatches from the outside.
- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.
- [Narrator] Go inside thestory with Jerusalem Dateline.
- Israeli archeologists aretalking about a discovery
that could change the thinkingabout the Temple Mount.
- [Narrator] Join CBN JerusalemBureau Chief, Chris Mitchell
and get the biblical perspective
on the events shaping the world.
- [Narrator] What starts in Israel
then ends up going to other places.
- [Narrator] Watch JerusalemDateline Friday night
at 9:30 on the CBN News Channel.
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- Orphan's Promise is committed to loving
and serving at risk children,
to helping keep families together
and to creating opportunities for strong
and sustainable communitiesaround the world.
We are working in over 60countries around the world
and with your help we can do even more.
There's an old Africanproverb I love that says
if you wanna run fast, run alone
but if you wanna run far run together.
At Orphan's Promise we want to run far
so we can touch thelives of as many orphaned
and vulnerable children as possible.
But we don't want to go alone.
We're out to change theworld one child, one family,
one community at a time.
Will you join us?
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- Meet the pastors whoare preaching the gospel
in a fresh, fearless way.
I'm Roberto Torosavedo join me each week
for Next Gen Voices.
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And watch God transform a generation.
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- Welcome back to the broadcast.
At a young age Joe Castillodiscovered his gift for art.
When he became a Christianhe began using that gift
to share Christ.
- He sure did but Joeuses a very different tool
to tell his stories, sand.
Take a look at the Easter story
like you've never seen it before.
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- [Joe] The story of course, starts out
in the Garden of Gethsemaneout on the hillside
outside of Jerusalem andit was there that Christ
took his disciples to pray
and he knew what he was facing,
although the disciples did not.
And he was taken before thecourt and he was mocked,
he was beaten and he wassubjected to scourging
and even after all of thosetorments and those wounds
and he was so badlybeaten that he needed help
carrying the cross.
He was wearing a crownof thorns that had been
placed on his head mocking him as king.
And hanging on the cross there
is when he spoke thewords father forgive them
for they know not what they do.
The grave where he lay
they had rolled a largestone over the opening.
And sometime in the nightthe grave had been opened.
And the man that everyone thought was dead
had risen from the deadand the tomb was empty.
And Christ wanted to be there,not to be any doubt at all
and so he actuallyappeared to his disciples
and showed them the woundsin his hands and in his side
so that they would believe
that he'd come back from the dead.
- He is risen.- He is risen indeed.
- Happy Easter to you.
- Happy Easter George
and to all of you.- Happy Easter to everyone.
Well, folks that is itfor this week's edition
of Christian World News.
I hope you've enjoyed and inspired
by all of our awesome stories.
- Until next week from all of us here
at Christian World News goodbye,
happy Easter and God bless you.
