As It Began to Dawn
(An Artistic Interpretation of John 20:1-7)
by Alexis Wilson
John 20:1-7
1.The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2.Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3.Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4.So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5.And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6.Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7.And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
In Leviticus 16:4 we are told of the garments of atonement worn by the High Priest of Israel. Once each year in a supreme act of deep adoration and profound symbolism, the High Priest, clothed in these atonement garments, entered the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifical blood for his own sins and for the sins of the people of Israel. The garments he wore were made of raw linen and were declared to be “holy” by the Word of the Lord.
We read in John 20:7 the burial garment of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of all sacrificial offerings and our Atonement, was also made of linen.
I was told after much searching that according to one ancient Jewish custom a folded napkin left by a visitor is a statement declaring, “I will return.”
Order This Painting