The Easter Mummy And The Folded Napkin

The Folded Napkin!

The Easter Mummy

Introduction

A. Today being Easter we are going to talk about the resurrection of Jesus. Next week we will be starting a new sermon series, “Famous last words.” We will be looking at the seven last statements Jesus said as He was hanging on the cross and what they meant. We will also be looking at last statements made by famous people like movie actors, politicians, criminals, athletes and ministers. This is going to be an incredible sermon series.

Text Poll

On what day did Jesus die?

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

A. Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

B. Jesus died at around 3:00pm (Luke 23:44) in the afternoon and was put in the grave just before 6PM.

C. We know He rose on the 1st day of the week according to Mark 16:9. “Jesus rose early on the first day of the week.” So that would be Sunday.

D. We know He died the day before the Sabbath according to Mark 15:42. “It was Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath.” So, we assume He died on Friday since the next day was a Sabbath. But if He was put in the grave on Friday night and rose Sunday morning, you only get two nights and two days. So what’s up with that?

E. The answer can be found in Lev 23:5-7. The day after the Passover was considered a High Holy Day, or a Holy Sabbath. “The LORD’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the LORD's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.”

F. Also, in John 19:31-33 we read, “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath for that Sabbath was a high day.”

G. CORRECT: He was put in grave late Thursday (Passover the 14th day of the month), just before the evening. The next day was Friday, and it was the High Holy Day or Holy Sabbath (the 15th day of the month) and then came Saturday, the regular Sabbath. That year it was a double Sabbath. That would mean Jesus was in the grave Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights for three nights, and He was in the grave Thursday, Friday, Saturday days for three days. He rose Sunday morning BEFORE 6AM.

H. Now all four of the gospels talk about Jesus' resurrection. They all cover a different aspect of it. While preparing for the sermon this year, I came across an obscure bible verse about the resurrection that I never noticed before. I was so intrigued by it that I spent hours and hours and hours researching it.

I. Have you ever talked to someone who gave you way too many details?” We call that “TMI,” too much information. But this is never the case with God, EVERY DETAIL MATTERS.

J. Today we are going to read an interesting and detailed description of what was seen in the tomb on Sunday morning that is told by John as he first arrived there. We are going to be reading in the Gospel of John 20:1-10.

What about the ‘folded handkerchief?’ Was Jesus OCD? John 20:1-10

A. Now in verse 7 we read an interesting detail about what the two disciples actually saw when they looked into the tomb. “The handkerchief or head piece was folded together.” Some translations read, “wrapped.” But the point is, it was not connected to the linen cloths that had been around Jesus body. It was off by itself. I never noticed this before. What was up with this???

B. Was Jesus struggling with OCD that morning? Was Jesus struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder that morning? This is incredible! Just think about it. The most important event in history is happening. Jesus is rising from the dead. It was the event of deepest importance for every human being who ever lived. The Law and the Prophets were fulfilled in that moment, and the existence of the human race took on an utterly new meaning. All of heaven is standing and watching this take place. Thunder and lightning are flashing, the music is playing, the angels are singing, and everyone is waiting for Him to step out of the tomb.

C. But here is Jesus, “Hmm, wait, I better fold this napkin and make everything neat before I go out!” And there He is folding the napkin, “Hmm where should I put it. Okay I’ll put it right here, no, I put it over there. Yes, that is nice.” Then He dusts away a few cobwebs and then He walks out!