851: Resurrection Myth

There is a detail in the account of Jesus' resurrection that has captured the attention of scholars and Bible students over the years. The passage is John 20:6-7 and it tells us what Peter saw when he came to the tomb: "Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen."

Some have found  meaning in the fact that Peter found Jesus' face cloth separate from the linen that had wrapped His dead body before He was hastily laid in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb. The myth surrounding the face "napkin" (as the King James referred to the face cloth) is that it was folded as a master would fold his dinner napkin to let the servant know he was not finished eating but was coming back to the table after a brief absence. People have assumed that Jesus was sending a message to His followers that He was "not done" but was "coming back"' in due time.

While this a touching thought and interpretation, it is not true. First century Jews did not use a dinner napkin (that was a European custom) and there does not seem to be any biblical evidence that the face cloth was folded a certain way. It was simply not with the body linens, but rather in a separate place.

SO WHAT?

Does the face cloth detail have any meaning? It must, otherwise John would not have found it significant to include well after the other three gospels had been written omitting the face cloth placement. So what is the significance?

First, the fact that the face cloth was present and not thrown aside indicates that "body snatchers" had not stolen the body as was later reported. If someone is breaking into a tomb with armed guards asleep at the entrance, they would not take the time to fold or place a face cloth in its appointed place. Speed would have been essential, so the body could have been grabbed as is, and unwrapped later.

Second, when Lazarus was raised from the dead as reported John 11, he had to be freed from his grave clothes. Granted, Jesus had been hastily entombed because the Sabbath was nigh, so He would not have been fully wrapped. Still, He needed no help extricating Himself from His wrappings, either performing the task Himself or having angelic help in doing so.

Finally, Jesus' resurrection was just another "day at the office" for Him. The scene in the tomb did not depict a violent struggle or an escape that had to be completed quickly and silently before the guards discovered what was happening. Jesus had surrendered His life to the Father because He trusted the Father's promise in His word:

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:9-11).

THE LESSONS

There are several lessons for us in this simple detail. Here are some three thoughts as we close:

1. God will do what He promised He would do.
2. You do not need to fret or frantically work to fulfill your God-given assignments. God will help you.
3. No one can wrap you in grave clothes so tightly that God cannot free you.
4. You may have a role in removing your own grave clothes - those things that restrict your faith movement in God.

And one final thought: Jesus is alive as He promised He would be, and that is no myth. His resurrection is real and He shares His resurrection power with us right here, right now. I urge you to put aside the things that try to wrap and entomb you, and do so as nonchalantly and calmly as Jesus did. As you do, I know you will have a blessed week!