It Ain't Over Til It's Over

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered His head, not with the burial cloths, but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed (Jn. 20:3-8).

The holy season of Lent began yesterday, a time of penitence and spiritual inventory taking. When I was a kid, we used to try to outdo each other in giving something up for those 40 days before Easter. As an adult, I still give something up, but my focus now is more on why we do what we do. What’s the purpose of such sacrifice? What is it all leading to?

Part of it, of course, is in memory of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. Another part of it is learning discipline. I’ve known lots of people who decided to use Lent work on some habit (like smoking) that they wanted to get rid of, and after the 40 days of struggle, found they were rid of it for good. Others reverse it, and discipline themselves into doing things they know they need to do, but find difficult. However we approach it, it’s about acknowledging that we are weak, that we are poor and oppressed (Ps. 86:1), and that it is in the cross of Christ that we truly find our strength (cf. Gal. 6).

We know that Calvary and the cross were not the end, but rather the beginning of our salvation. We know that there will be Alleluias sung come Easter Sunday. But Easter isn’t the end either. I received an e-mail from a friend the other day that added a new dimension to my understanding of the story of that first Easter morning. I wanted to share it with all of you for your own meditations. It has to do with the cloth that was placed over the face of Jesus at His burial. We read about that cloth being off by itself and it’s easy to kind of skim right over that passage. Read on and see why we shouldn’t neglect this verse. Being an eternal student of history with a fascination for ancient customs, I found this most interesting and hope you do also. Excerpt from my friend’s message follows:

“In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and the Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for his master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. The servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin 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 folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!' Jesus is coming back!”

Prayer Request: For those struggling to break bad habits

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for sending you Son Jesus to be our Savior, and for the gift of the cross that helps us to separate ourselves from all that separates us from You. As we journey through these 40 days of Lent, keep us mindful that our true strength is in You. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.