Silliman University Church Reflections

(John 2:1-11, 20:1-7)

I am reading a book by Ann Rice, “Christ the Lord: The Road to
Cana”. It is an unexpected rendering of Jesus story supported by Biblical scholarship, leading up to Jesus active ministry. If you are among the many who ask, what was Jesus life before his first miracle? What were his thoughts about his mission? How did he struggle to obey God’s will? This is a book for you.

In summary (I haven’t finished the book yet), the book portrays Jesus as a person with real life dilemmas. He was an ordinary carpenter. Joseph and Mary knew him but, like Jesus, were prayerfully waiting for a time when his mission will be revealed. The intriguing thing about the fiction book is that real events led Jesus to do what he did. He falls in love with Avigail. He struggles to be faithful to God, despite his love for Avigail. Unexpected events happen, Jesus surrenders Avigail to another man. Avigail is the woman who was wedded in Cana, where Jesus performs his first miracle; where he launches his ministry.

Jesus life and those of his family are lives lived in the real world, where unexpected things happen. This is the real world where we must live in real faith in order to have hope.

Sometimes it is convenient to assume everything about our faith, with out realizing that Jesus himself did not have all the answers all the time. He lived in constant serendipity[1] of God’s revelation. But the events of every day were unexpected leaving Jesus to wonder, what will happen next. His arrest, torture and death were certainly forecast. But the pain was unexpected and real.. Even at the last moment, Jesus struggled to obey.

Our text today talks about Jesus resurrection story. I would like to dwell today on a small detail of that story. It is an unexpected detail that may have great meaning.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus went to Pontius Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus. They were allowed to take his lifeless body from the cross to a new tomb that Joseph had prepared for himself. They washed His body, and wrapped it in white linen, folding His arms over His chest. They closed His eyes, kissed His cheek, and placed a napkin over His face.

For 3 days, the disciples were hopeless. But on the third day, something unexpected happens. The stone rolled away, and up from the grave He arose. He lives!

In our text, Mary Magdalene comes first to the tomb. The unexpected happens. The stone rolled away. She goes to Peter and John, and they run together to the tomb. John got there first but stops at the door. Peter arrives and goes right in. The tomb is empty, but he sees the linen clothes strewn about. But there was something unexpected in that scene. Something caught his eye that was very interesting. And this is the small detail that has great meaning.

The Gospel of John tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside as the linen was scattered. V. 7 “The napkin was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Is that detail important? Let’s see.

The folded napkin has to do with Master and Servant relations, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was set and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master had finished eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and take the napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then clear the table. For the napkin cast aside, meant, “I’m done”. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, “I’m not finished yet.” The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

Peter and John saw a folded napkin in the empty bed! Was Jesus saying, “Im not finished yet…Im coming back!”

Jesus had accomplished his mission on the cross. John 3: 17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him, might be saved.

But in many ways his work was to be continued by his disciples. But were they prepared? So Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (20:10ff) and commands her to “tell the disciples” that she had seen him (which is the fundamental Evangel). Mary Magdalene gave the Evangel to them, “I have seen the Lord.”

Imagine how hopeless they were before that Good News. Wouldn’t you be hopeless too? Would you believe Jesus if he did not resurrect on Easter?

So the question is: Was the napkin folded in order to…in verses 19 ff, enable Jesus to first send out his fearful disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Was the napkin folded, because …v 22, the disciples had to first,  “Receive the Holy Spirit. You are given power, to forgive sins, or not to forgive sins.

Was the napkin folded, because (24), hope was not yet a reality to Thomas? “Unless I see the nail marks and put my fingers where the nails were, I will not believe it.” V. 26, Jesus tells Thomas, “put your finger here, see my hands, reach out your hand and put it into my side, Stop doubting and believe. Only then does Thomas says “My Lord and my God.”

In fact none of the disciples understood what Jesus meant with the words “I will rise again” until after the unexpected fact.

This may be surprising to you but many Christians believe in Jesus but cannot yet accept the unexpected resurrection part.

Some might ask: Does God violate the law of gravity? But if God obeys our laws of gravity, we would not need faith. We would be God’s ourselves. Nothing will be unexpected. Like the Jews who could not reconcile God becoming a human person. And so we are doomed to faithlessness and hopelessness.

Easter reminds us that without the unexpected resurrection there is no hope. Easter reminds us in Revelation there will be a day when another supper will take place. It will be called the marriage supper of the Lamb, and that at the end of the meal, Jesus will stand at the head of the table, and He will wipe His fingers, mouth, and He will take His napkin, and cast it aside…when that happens, it IS over!

The last soul that will be saved, has been saved. The last doubter that’s going to come home has come! When Christ’s work is done, He will come again.

Right now, the napkin is still folded! Tomorrow the napkin may be cast aside. Are we living in the reality of hope? If so prepare for the unexpected.