No Place for Jesus | Easter Reflection

On Good Friday, my mom was reading the resurrection story to my kids, and when she read, “Then [Joseph] took [his body] down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid,” (Lk 23:53), hearing it read aloud, it struck me how much this description sounds like the description at Jesus’ birth. On the first day of Jesus’ life on earth, “[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because was no place for him in the inn” (Lk 2:7). And on his last day of life, he was again wrapped in cloth.

At his start, Jesus is wrapped in cloths by his mother (and likely his father, Joseph, for she had just given birth) and placed somewhere unusual for newborn babies: a manger. At his start, there was no place for him. At his end, Jesus is wrapped in cloth by another Joseph and placed somewhere unusual for everyday Jews: in an unused tomb. There was no place for Jesus in the world until his death.

At his start, the baby in cloths was part of the sign to the shepherds and others that the child was who the angels said he was (Lk 2:8-18). At his end, the body-less cloths were part of the sign to Mary and the others that Jesus was who he said he was (Lk 24:1-12). And in both cases, the wrapping in cloth signified care. His parents wanted to keep him protected and covered. Joseph and the women wanted to keep him protected and covered. His beginning parallels his finish.

This year, let us not wait until Jesus’ death and burial to make a special place for him in our lives. Let us not wait until Jesus’ death and burial to treat him with care. Starting today and continuing tomorrow and every day, let us like the shepherds return glorifying and praising God for all that we have heard and seen (Lk 2:20). Let us like Mary and the other women remember Jesus’ words and return to tell all the rest (Lk 24:8-9). Let us not wait until we remember his first cloths (Christmas), or his final cloths (Easter), to make a place for him in our world. He is who the angels said he is, a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord (Lk 2:11), and who he said he is, the Son of Man (Lk 24:6-7).

Happy Resurrection Sunday, and may God bless you and your families abundantly.