Sunday, April 12, 2020
Graveclothes abandoned
John 20:6,7
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Back in 1972, I came home one afternoon and, running up the stairs, as usual, I burst in the front door and made a beeline for my grandfather’s bedroom. I was startled to see that my grandfather’s big toes were tied together with white cotton, and there was what looked like a handkerchief tied around his head keeping his mouth shut. I couldn’t understand and was devasted as it was explained to me that he had died, and this was the necessary preparation of the body. Later, I helped pick out his graveclothes.
My mind is on this because in these days, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of people dying each day, there are so many bodies that need graveclothes, clothes picked out and brought by family or friends. Many, unfortunately, are being buried in what they were wearing when they died.
Clothes tie us to things, those things might be locations, institutions, or even activities. For example, when someone gets out of jail they leave the jail clothes behind. Former prisoners quickly shed the prison jumpsuit either for the clothes they lodged when they were booked in, or the clothes brought by loved ones for the day they are getting out.
Graveclothes are no different. We try to dress our deceased loved ones in the things that they liked wearing, or the colours that were their favourites, or some garment that had special meaning to them. Graveclothes generally aren’t arbitrary. Often, the graveclothes are specially made for the person’s burial. Some behave as if what the body is dressed in matters to the person who is dead.
Those who get into the viewing line at the funeral tend to remember what they saw in the casket, what was the look on the face, and how the body was dressed. It is as if the person carries on endlessly somewhere dressed in that which made them happy or comfortable.
The story of Jesus’ burial tells of the hastily put-together effort to get his body, apply the spices, wrap it in cloths and then lay it in an available tomb.
On resurrection morning, the disciples of Jesus got to the open tomb expected to see His body lying there in the cloths He was wrapped in two days before. Instead, not only was the body missing, but “the linen cloths [were] lying there … and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. John 20:5-7.
Unlike the dead that we usually encounter, Jesus got up from the dead and then He clearly took off the graveclothes, folded them, and left them behind as he was leaving.
When Lazarus had emerged from the tomb, Jesus immediately instructed that his graveclothes be removed. “He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”” John 11:43,44
The clothes that we are buried in will not matter much. God has this habit of changing even our clothes when we are His. When He came down to the garden to confront Adam and Eve, after He dealt with the consequences of their sin, He changed their clothes. They were wearing garments that they made from leaves but “… for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21.
Then, at the time of the Exodus, as God was setting in place a set of standards for His chosen people, He had identified clothes as an important marker. Those who were to be set aside as priests had to have special clothes, vestments, to identify themselves and to perform their duties. “Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Exodus 39:1
There is also another Old Testament story of a vision that Zechariah had of the High Priest Joshua. “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. Zechariah 3:1-5
In the New Testament there is the story popularly known at the Prodigal Son, he too got a change of clothes, “… the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.” Luke 15:22
Importantly, in John’s vision of the end we see the “marriage supper of the Lamb!” and that those who are participating are specially clothed in new garments for attendance. ““Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:7,8
Jesus rose from the dead, undressed, folded His grave clothes, and left the tomb and abandoned them. Times are tough, but when He comes again for us, our graveclothes will be abandoned too.
Let us take comfort in this and then let us comfort others, in this most difficult time, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Think on these things:
- Is the present pandemic helping you to clarify what is really important?
- Are you afraid to die?
- Are you better prepared to comfort those who suffer loss at this time?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today for God’s comfort in these difficult days.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex
Notes:
- Photo credit: A mortuary worker in a protective suit looks inside a coffin with the body of a person who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Brussels, Belgium April 9 REUTERS-Yves Herman
- For this Easter weekend, there will be 5 daily devotionals, Graveclothes abandoned is the fourth.