The Shroud and Adam

Question: The Shroud of Turin seems popular at the moment, shrouds are associated with death. There’s an image of a man on the shroud, and “Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor 15:21). Adam means “man” and Jesus calls himself the “Son of man”, is there some significance we should take note of?

Answer: “On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever” (Isaiah 25:7–8). 

A shroud is a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial. Isaiah prophesies that the Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces in Isaiah 25:8. John says similar in Revelation: “‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).

Jesus was wrapped in clothes at his birth, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). 

And at his death Jesus was also wrapped in cloth, “Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth” (Matt 27:59). Jesus was born that he might serve and save us: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28).

Jesus also endured death on our behalf: “he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Heb 2:9). 

Jesus died and was wrapped in a burial cloth so that he might destroy the shroud that enfolds all people. His death stands tall in history for all to see, men and women are confronted by the death of the Lord Jesus. The sovereignty of God places the death of his Son before us all, so that we might see it, and contemplate it. “This is my body given for you” (Luke 22:19). 

The shroud is related to death, but Jesus is the life. “I lay down My life so that I may take it again… No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:11,17).

The shroud is representative of death but Christ’s tomb is empty because he is the resurrection and the life. Because he lives, we also will live. 

We are confronted by the death of Jesus, the Father will not allow us to escape its gaze, for it’s through the death of his Son and only through his death that we can be saved.