John 20
GRAVE CLOTHES

There was something about the linen cloths that convinced John that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. This is what we are told that Peter and John saw when they ran into the tomb: “And stooping to look in, he [John] saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.” (John 20 v 5 – 8 ESV).

I had always imagined the linen strips lying in an untidy heap like an unravelled roll of toilet paper, tangled and piled up. But I wonder whether the grave clothes looked a little different. Maybe the thing that convinced John that Jesus had been risen from the dead was that the grave clothes were still wrapped up where his body had been lying, but without a body inside the wrapping. Deflated but unwrapped. No one could have done that either from inside or outside the grave clothes unless there had been a miracle of resurrection. If that was the case, no wonder he saw and believed!

What is it that convinces you that Jesus was raised from the dead?

May our belief in the power of the resurrection be strengthened this week.

With love in our Lord,
Robert

New at Thinky Things this week:

Short Story: Constance
One ring. Two rings. Three rings. Maybe she wouldn’t answer. I began to hope. But then there was a click. “Hello?”
I had missed phone call from Constance. Previous experience had told me what to expect…
Read it here

The Story of the Song Of Solomon

We will be starting to read the Song of Solomon in a couple of weeks. Check out The Story of the Song of Solomon, by Robert Prins. In this short booklet, Robert tells the story of the song to give us context to the words of the drama we read in our Bibles. Find out where to get your copy at www.thinkythings.com/purchase/