KenE@21B
Well-Known Member
I read a book a while ago about Jewish customs, which helps to understand some (otherwise difficult) Scriptures [eg Luke 15 - asking one's neighbour for bread in the middle of the night]
One Scripture which always puzzled me was John 20:9 "He saw and believed"
What did he see?
What led him to immediately believe and what did he believe?
According to the book on Jewish customs, and verified by Scripture, after washing Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped His body carefully in strips of linen (tachrichim), which were purposely kept simple to avoid distinguishing between rich or poor. Each of His limbs was wrapped and His entire body was encircled in a shawl. The linen was of good quality, and roughly 75 pounds of spices were used to soak the cloth and anoint the body. Joseph and Nicodemus used myrrh and incense to mask the odors of death and prevent decay.
Now, the aloe-soaked cloths wrapped around Jesus' body from neck to toes would have dried and set into a hard, 'mummy-like' shell after a few days.
Is it possible that Peter looked into the tomb, and saw this 'shell', perfectly preserved, but EMPTY - with the body of Jesus miraculously risen and freed from it's burial cast?!
One Scripture which always puzzled me was John 20:9 "He saw and believed"
What did he see?
What led him to immediately believe and what did he believe?
According to the book on Jewish customs, and verified by Scripture, after washing Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped His body carefully in strips of linen (tachrichim), which were purposely kept simple to avoid distinguishing between rich or poor. Each of His limbs was wrapped and His entire body was encircled in a shawl. The linen was of good quality, and roughly 75 pounds of spices were used to soak the cloth and anoint the body. Joseph and Nicodemus used myrrh and incense to mask the odors of death and prevent decay.
Now, the aloe-soaked cloths wrapped around Jesus' body from neck to toes would have dried and set into a hard, 'mummy-like' shell after a few days.
Is it possible that Peter looked into the tomb, and saw this 'shell', perfectly preserved, but EMPTY - with the body of Jesus miraculously risen and freed from it's burial cast?!