Finished!

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Sigmund Brouwer tells this story in his beautiful book, The Carpenter's Cloth.

"During Jesus' time there was one way a carpenter let the contrator know a job was finished. A signature, so to speak.

"Imagine a hot afternoon in Galilee. Jesus has completed the final pieces of a job he has worked on for several days. The hair of his strong forearms is matted with sawdust and sweat. His face is shiny with heat. He takes a final—and welcome—drink of cool water from a leather bag.

"Then, standing to the side of his work, he pours water over his face and chest, splashing it over his arms to clean himself before his journey home. Wth a nearby towel, he pats his face and arms dry.

"Finally, Jesus folds the towel neatly in half, and then folds it in half again. He sets it on the finished work and walks away. Later, whoever arrives to inspect the work will see the towel and understand its simple message. The work is finished.

"Christ's disciples, of course, knew this carpenter's tradition. On a Sunday of sorrow, three years after Jesus had set aside his carpenter's tools, Peter would crouch to look into an empty tomb and see only the linens that the risen Lord had left behind.

"A smile will cross Peter's face as his sorrow is replaced by hope, for he will see the wrap that covered Jesus' face. It has been folded in half, then folded in half again and left neatly on the floor of the tomb.

"Peter understands. The carpenter has left behind a simple message.

"It is finished."

And it is. Redemption won, and the way open for reconciliation with the Father secured.