To cover ...whether it is to guard or protect; conceal or hide from sight or knowledge ---whether with good intentions or not; or to make a provision for ---with a worthy replacement, a worthy investment, or totally covering expenses ...all involve some consideration in covering.

Adam & Eve tried to cover their guilt ...but, God exposed them ---then covered them by His own provision.  

One of Noah's sons sought to expose his dad, but two made allowance for any perceived shortcomings.  

The good Samaritan provided compassion without judgment ...and also covered the cost of recovery.  

And Jesus covered the full expense of the debt of all of our sins ...with his death on the cross.

As Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is finished."  He had completed His purpose of coming to make provision for our sins.  But, in another respect, it had just begun ...shortly after His resurrection, He gave His disciples a commission.

They received no fee or payment for performing a service ...it was not that kind of commission.  Jesus gave them direct authorization granting them the power and entrusting them with the responsibility to go out wholly and holy in His behalf to spread the message of salvation, covering the whole earth.

Obviously, they didn't even know half the earth existed nor the means to discover those other areas.  They only covered what they could, and were to pass the passion on to us ...so, we would enthusiastically take up the commission.

In Matthew 26:12, it was the scene of the last Supper, and Jesus said, " ...I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

The cultural etiquette was that you were to keep your napkin folded if you were going to return, to finish.  But, more on that later.

Before the high priest, Jesus said, " ...Hereafter shall you see the son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds."  The high priest rent his clothes.

Jesus was sent back and forth from Pilate, to Herod, and back to Pilate again.  They stripped Jesus of His clothes, and put a scarlet robe upon Him ...and a crown of thorns upon His head, mocking Him.

They took the robe away, and put His own clothes back on Him.  Pilate washed his hands ...as he communicated that he was done with it.

They led Him away to be crucified, and along the way there were a great company of people.  Jesus turned to them, and in Luke 23: 28-30, said, " ...weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children ...for behold the day are coming in which they shall say, Blessed  are the barren, and the womb that never bare ...they shall say to the mountains, fall on us; and to the hills, cover us."  That is what Jesus says they will say, not as the ways things should be ...but as they will be.  I think of today, how we have made wombs ...tombs for the dead.  Do we think we are near End Times?

They parted His garments, casting lots.  John 19:23, says, " ...and also His coat ...without seam woven from the top throughout."

They crucified Him ...and He died.  Matthew 27:51, states, " ...the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom ..."

John 19:30, says, "It is finished!"  Yes, it was, and is ...but, He wasn't, and isn't.

Joseph of Arimathaea got permission from Pilate for the body of Jesus, and wrapped Him in clean linen and laid Him in a tomb.

Chapter 20, of John, tells of Mary Magdalene visiting the sepulchre  ...or tomb, and seeing the stone rolled away.  She runs to tell of it, and Peter goes too, noticing, "And the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself."  I don't know if Mary folded them, if Jesus did, or if an angel folded or neatly placed the clothes.  But, as I mentioned earlier, it was customary to keep the napkin folded if one is not finished having communion with those you are with.

Mary Magdalene remained weeping as the others left.  Jesus then, made His first appearance after His resurrection, as John 20:17, says, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father: and to My God, and your God."

There were those who doubted what Mary told them.  What did they do?  They went back to doing what they had done before they had met Jesus for the first time ...they went back fishing.

But, He appeared to them ...at a distance, and asked them to cast their nets.  And they were filled.  

And later they were also filled with the Holy Spirit.  Thomas, doubting, was also invited to touch His wounds ...and to believe.  Luke 24:42-43, says, Jesus took a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb, and ate it, communing with them.  Matthew 27:52-53, continues on to say, " ...and graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints came out of their graves after His resurrection, and went  into the holy city, and appeared unto many."  And I can imagine that they would immediately believe also.

Acts 1:8, says, " ...the Holy Spirit is come unto you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."  And when He had spoken these words, they beheld He was taken up in a cloud out of their sight.

So much imagery of cloths, and the position and use of them ...neatly presented, or crumpled.

When we fold, it usually means we give up.  But, Jesus begins in our lives when we give up ...never really encouraging us to give up, but to give up trying to do it ourselves, allowing Him to guide our lives.

How do we do this?  My wife is wonderful in so many ways ...and she also gives me much of the insight that I try to communicate to you.  She humbly often does not want me to share this aspect of her beauty, but has granted me permission to quote her here:

"Amos 7:8 ~ And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more.

There has always been a standard. People may not have always followed it, they may have veered away, but the STANDARD was always there to return to. The whole Old Testament pointed to redemption. The coming Messiah who would be the standard... The plumb line.

Now people are changing and discrediting the standard. Making it what they feel or want it to be. Or to have it disappear altogether. A plumb line was used to build a foundation straight. To start out correctly and make sure it was exact before progressing on. You can't build a house beginning crooked and expect it to turn out right in the end. John the Baptist preached to make the crooked path straight. Turn to Jesus. God said 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!' as Jesus came up out of the water of His baptism! He is the plumb line and the standard.

I'm saying, the troubling and heartbreaking thing about this is that when we attempt to form the standard to our own ideas and self wisdom, when we pick and choose what we want to believe and cast doubt on God's Word, we are only watering it down for future generations. Blurring the lines. That house using crooked lines will collapse like one built on sandy soil rather than on the solid rock...."


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