Easter - It's in the Details

There are certain passages of the Bible that you can read time and time again and you read them for the 50th time and something hits you anew. Most of us have read the Easter Story over and over again. So there is probably little I can tell you about it. However, I learnt something new about it this year that I wanted to pass on!

John 20: 3-9

3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

I’ve read this passage many times and the two things that have struck me are these. Why does it mention that the cloth that covered Jesus’ head was folded up separately? Why does the other disciple go into an open tomb and suddenly believe, especially as we are also told that the still did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead. I think I would have a pile of questions not a belief!! Where was Jesus, who has got his body, why has someone removed his clothes?

Perhaps it’s just me, but even if I had thought he had come back from the dead I would have been thinking - OK Jesus has risen from the dead- and the first thing he did was to rip off his grave clothes but then stop to neatly fold up the napkin that was around his head? So why weren’t the disciples thinking that? They weren’t thinking that because the knew things that I didn’t! The disciples lived in a culture that I simply don’t know enough about.

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, we have to understand a little bit about Hebrew culture of the day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this. 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 furnished perfectly, 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 were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his 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 finished.." 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!"

So the disciples didn’t think the grave had been robbed - the clear message that had been left for them in the tomb was “I’m Back!!”

To Judge or Not to Judge

Many Christians feel it is wrong to Judge - is this a right belief?

So is it true that as Christians we shouldn’t judge others? Many people believe that Matthew 7: 1-2 means that we should under no circumstances judge others.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Let’s face it, it sounds pretty conclusive. However let’s look at in it’s context and also at other parts of the Bible.

So if we take this passage at face value it means that we can never point out a fault in others, even if it is a truly constructive comment. It means that we can not practise any sort of church discipline as that would require some sort of judgement. We would not be able to expose any who teach in in error. We can also not speak out against Christians who live in homosexual relationships, live together outside of marriage or indeed do anything that we believe is contrary to the Christian lifestyle.

So is this right?

Let’s have a look at what James 2: 12-13 says.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Does this shed a bit of light on the passage? After all we will all face judgement at some point, whether we judge or not.


If we look at the context of these verses we see that in some cases correct judgement must be made. In Matthew 7: 5-6

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

We see that judgement can be made in the right way. We can take the speck from our brothers eye once we have removed the plank in our own eye. This will involve examining our motives in judging. Are we judging for the furtherance of God’s kingdom or to build ourselves up and make us feel better or look batter.

Verse 6 shows us that we need to make judgement as to who are dogs and who are pigs.

If we look further a field in Matthew 7: 15-20

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise very good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

We can see that we are actively encouraged to judge good prophets from false prophets.

So let’s have a look at other parts of the Bible:

John 7: 24

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

So, we are warned to not make wrong judgements, judgements based on appearances. However, we are told to make right judgements.

1 Corinthians 5: 9-13

I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you.

Here is a clear call that we must judge those who call themselves our Christian brothers. Not only are we to judge there actions we are called to harsh action and not even associate with them.

1 John 4: 1

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Testing the spirits requires judgement, not just of the spirit but of the prophet.


What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

WWJD

I’ve never worn a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelet. Whether or not that makes me a bad person I’m not sure? (note to self - it’s all the other things that make you a bad person) What I’m not convinced about is that wearing one would make me a better person, a better Christian or draw me nearer to God. I have a friend who wears one as an evangelistic opportunity - so that people ask him what it is and it gives him the opportunity to share his faith. I think this is a great thing to do and I pray that he will be given more openings through this to share his faith. I guess I’m just not convinced that there are thousands of people out there living out the What Would Jesus Do? lifestyle. Ok, I don’t wear the bracelet but I know I’m not.

So, what would a person living out this life look like, act like, be like? I don’t need to answer that question for you. All you need to do is look at the life of Jesus to see what someone asking this question and carrying out the answers would look like.

To aspire to do what Jesus would do is a great aspiration and I wouldn’t want to knock it. However, let’s face it, Jesus happened to be the Son of God, God in human form and to top it all off he was also perfect. So if I were to honestly ask myself What Would Jesus Do the answers I would get back would be quite deflating. So What would Jesus Do?
　
He’d heal the sick
He’d walk on water
He’d go all the way to the cross
He’d confront the leaders
He’d resist all temptation
He’d feed the poor
He’d love all his enemies
He’d die for those who hate him
He’d teach with wisdom and authority
He’d go the extra mile every single time
He’d mix with prostitutes and the outcasts
He’d confront the wrong doers and the Pharisees
He’d command the sea and the waves be still
He would show people God
　
If I could measure up to just one of these things I’d think I was doing pretty great. I think the question I’d like to ask is WWJHMD? Ok so it’s not as catchy and the writing on the bracelet would have to be smaller but I’d be asking What Would Jesus Have Me Do? Jesus, knowing me completely with all my failings, insecurities, lack of faith, self doubt, time restraints etc etc. what would you have me do in this situation or for this person. What can I say that will make a difference? What should I pray? How should I react? I don’t want to be defeatist about this but I can never measure up to the example set me by Jesus, I know that and he knows that. I could live my life in failure continually asking WWJD and discovering that I can’t do most of the things he would do. Or I can ask myself What Would Jesus Have ME Do and at least achieve little goals for Him each day. Yes, I need to become more like Jesus, but I need small steps to help me along the way. I can’t scale mountains in one mighty leap but I can slowly and even painfully scale the heights one step at a time.

So, I’m off to get millions of imaginary WWJHMD? Bracelets made. Perhaps you might join me in metaphorically wearing one.