John 20:1-9
‘Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.’ (vs. 6, 7)
Interesting things have been happening during this virus crisis. People are starting to pay attention to details they would have taken for granted or simply ignored in “normal” times. Folks are getting creative: Sheila shared with me posts of friends are writing new words for old songs to address the situation in clever ways, or posting old photos that carry new meaning and symbolism, or reflecting on something as common as a toaster.
Since you will be reading this thoughtfully, I hope, for an Easter like none other in our memory, I am going to go into some detail, because that is what John did in our text.
An eyewitness would offer details that only someone there would know. John provides such details along with insights into what these things mean. He “whispers” asides as someone with personal experience. Details. Asides. John wrote his testimony after much preaching, teaching and pastoral care, reflecting on the details that speak to what it means to believe in Jesus the Risen Son who brings eternal life!
Some suggest that an aging John would have enjoyed telling the story of Easter morning, because there was a lot of running: Mary Magdalene went running to Peter and another disciple (John) telling them that someone had taken the Lord from the tomb. Then Peter and the other disciple ran to see for themselves. Both saw the linen wrappings lying there in the empty tomb, and the burial cloth for the head rolled up or folded – the Greek word can mean either. Seeing this, John whispers to us how the disciple whom Jesus loved believed.
As often as I have read this text, I never thought about why that cloth was folded until I saw something about it on the internet a few years ago. Then recently, I read a novel that puzzled over the mystery of Jesus’ burial cloths in John’s gospel, sparking my interest again. However, I must caution that some of the internet material is questionable but does raise some interesting speculation regarding the folded cloth.
Only in John is this kind of cloth (soudarion) mentioned in relation to burial. It is found two other times in the New Testament in the context of
being a common handkerchief. In Acts, however, we see how an ordinary handkerchief was able to deliver extraordinary miracles from God (Acts 19:12). But the question remains here: why would John devote a whole verse to a handkerchief?
First of all, Mary was concerned that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. This echoed the concern voiced by the chief priests and Pharisees to Pilate that he should post a guard to prevent disciples from stealing the body (Matt. 27:62-66). Upon seeing this folded cloth, the disciples would have realized that no grave robbers would take the time to neatly roll up or fold the head cloth. So, the folded cloth was actually forensic evidence that no one took Jesus away as Mary first feared.
What is fascinating to me is how John described the scene when he entered the tomb: the kerchief which was on his head, not laying with the linen cloth but by itself, having been folded (or rolled up) in one place – a literal translation from the Greek text. John clearly believed this detail important enough for such emphasis.
Think about it: If Jesus transmuted and rose up like a spirit (as some heresies would later claim), the burial cloths would have fallen empty in place, in a disorderly way. But – and this is me trying to picture it according to the evidence – if Jesus physically sat up and became unwrapped, the head cloth probably would have fallen into his lap. Picture with me Jesus taking it, folding it and setting it aside – a gesture that might have come naturally to a carpenter’s son who had worked and sweated in Joseph’s shop, wiping his brow with a handkerchief such as this.
John saw the empty tomb, the linen, and the folded cloth – and he believed. He believed that Jesus was the Christ, and up from the grave he arose! Not as some amorphous spirit – no, this Jesus was real enough and thoughtful enough to fold a cloth and set it aside in its own place!
In that moment, hearing their labored breath echoing off the walls of a tomb left empty except for the linen cloths, Easter hope was born like a great spiritual shout. Even before they understood the scriptures that were fulfilled, even before they saw his pierced hands and side, even before they received the Holy Spirit, that disciple’s soul shouted, knowing, as we know, that it wasn’t over for him or for Peter or for Mary or for the others…and it isn’t over for us!
Our wonderful Easter hymns shout the soul’s testimony: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, or He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose!
This may not be a “normal” Easter, but no virus crisis can take its songs from our hearts. We may not be able to sing together, but we can still lift up our voice with a little He Lives.
Sing with me. It doesn’t matter if you remember the tune, or if your voice is in good tune! Just offer it up this Easter morning knowing your church family is doing the same. For today, we are People of the Folded Cloth, and we believe.
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.