{"id":36235,"date":"2024-03-06T03:00:21","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T08:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspireafire.com\/?p=36235"},"modified":"2024-03-05T14:15:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T19:15:17","slug":"seek-his-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspireafire.com\/seek-his-face\/","title":{"rendered":"Seek His Face"},"content":{"rendered":"

The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself<\/em> (John 20:7 CSB).<\/h2>\n

I stared at the words on the page.<\/h3>\n

How many times had I read them, and yet I\u2019d never really noticed this one particular part?<\/p>\n

Though it was the disciple Jesus loved who reached the tomb first, it was Peter who entered. And while scripture tells us John \u201csaw the linen cloths lying there\u201d (20:5), Peter was the one who noticed that the head covering of Jesus was folded up in a separate place. <\/em><\/p>\n

Why?<\/em> I wondered. Why would Jesus specifically fold the face cloth, then set it off separately from that which had covered His broken body?<\/em><\/p>\n

My attention was perked concerning this passage.<\/h3>\n

Figuratively highlighted for me, it\u2019s what I refer to as a \u201crhema moment\u201d\u2014when a portion of scripture I\u2019ve read a dozen times\u2014Strikes differently. Jumps off the page. Stands out in a fresh way.<\/p>\n

In Hebrew, \u201crhema\u201d means…<\/p>\n

An utterance <\/em>(from Strong\u2019s<\/em>).<\/h3>\n

In short, it describes how God\u2019s Word, even passages we\u2019ve studied prior, can hold new meaning when we hear Holy Spirit\u2019s whisper. His utterance. And for the reader of scripture, it\u2019s a gift because it causes us to seek.<\/p>\n

Having been struck by this particular verse, I asked the Lord, What\u2019s the message You\u2019re speaking?<\/em><\/p>\n

Then I prayerfully reread the passage within its context, trying to place myself in the scene, picture what has taken place.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jesus is raised from the dead.<\/h3>\n

The reality of this mighty miracle isn\u2019t pondered enough, at least until closer to the Lenten season, and we\u2019re not given glimpses behind the stone-sealed tomb. But we are offered clues concerning what occurred.<\/p>\n

With the help of the Holy Spirit one can imagine.<\/h3>\n

On the third day, having conquered sin, Jesus\u2014with nail-pierced hands and feet, spear-struck side, and bloodied brow\u2014rises. And not from slumber but from literal death.<\/p>\n

Indeed, He\u2019s defeated the grave.<\/h3>\n

Being man, perhaps Jesus wanted to stretch, rub His eyes but was bound too tightly to do so. Certainly, He managed a smile; after all, that which His humanness dreaded, apparent when He cried out to Abba several nights before, was behind Him (Luke 22:42). Because He\u2019d chosen the will of His Father, glory lay ahead…<\/p>\n

Just beyond the tomb\u2019s stone.<\/span><\/h3>\n