THE KESURRECTIOX OF JESUS CHRIST. 



159 



than this, the clothes were lying as if they still enclosed the body 

 of Christ. He, being raised, would naturally leave the clothes 

 behind. The wrappings being there, could not make any impression, 

 except there was something very peculiar about them. I believe 

 there was something peculiar about the clothes. It seems to me 

 that the grave clothes were lying as they had been in their con- 

 volutions round Christ's body. The clothes had never been un- 

 wrapped, but they were as if they still enclosed the body. Just as 

 the chrysalis of the butterfly, after the butterfly has emerged from 

 the case, the case retains the form of the chrysalis, although the 

 insect has gone from it. The only difference being, the butterfly 

 comes out of the end of the case, while with regard to Christ, He 

 would pass through the clothes without disturbing them, as He 

 passed through the locked doors of the Upper Room afterwards. 



The custom of the East was not to put a shroud on a dead body, 

 but to swathe it round and round with bands, as Dean Alford says : 

 "The word rendered grave clothes is explained to mean a sort 

 of band or tow, used to swathe infants." When we remember this, 

 the statement is the more impressive, for the clothes were lying 

 as if they enclosed the body of Jesus, but He was not within them. 

 The word rendered ' ' lying and lie, ' ' in John xx. 5, 6, is twice 

 rendered "set" in the same gospel, (ii. 6, xix. 29) in speaking 

 of vessels set in particular places. It is also used of a city which 

 " lieth " foursquare in Rev. xxi. 16. In each case there is the 

 thought of order, deliberate action, and fixedness. 



The Mastee of Selwyn, in conclusion, thanked the members for 

 their reception of his paper. It had been so appreciated that he 

 had no criticisms to which to reply. 



