The Jesus Cloth

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#222: “The Jesus Cloth”
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2 Timothy 1:12

12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

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The Jesus Cloth

“The Jesus Cloth” is episode #222 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Phil Lollar, and originally aired on March 6, 1993.

Summary

The appearance of a piece of cloth supposedly from Jesus' robe creates great hubbub in Odyssey.

Plot

The-jesus-cloth.png

Connie brings Whit a package that arrived in the mail from Alfred Brownlee, who used to send Whit unusual archaeological artifacts. The package contains an ancient, smelly leather pouch. Inside is a piece of very old cloth. A letter from Brownlee explains that he found the pouch and cloth at a dig site in the Holy Land. The cloth is dated from the time of Christ, and is possibly a piece of Jesus’ robe!

Connie is excited about this and urges Whit to see if it is authentic. Whit says he will check it out. He tells Connie to keep quiet about it until they know something for sure. But Connie lets the news slip out, and soon Whit’s End is besieged with people wanting to see the “Jesus Cloth.” Whit tries to convince them that there is no conclusive proof that the cloth is from Christ’s robe. But when he mentions that the only way to know if it’s even from the right time period is by radiocarbon dating, which involves burning the cloth, the crowd nearly riots, and the police are called to Whit’s End.

Whit sends the cloth to a museum in Jerusalem and sadly ponders whether we Christians are putting our faith in relics or in the risen Christ.

This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »

Discussion Questions

  1. Can you think of a real-life example of “The Jesus Cloth”?
    • How do people act around it?
  2. What do you think should be the real purpose of relics?
  3. Is it bad to believe in relics?
    • Should we expect them to perform miracles?
    • Explain your answers.
  4. Upon what do you base your faith?

Cast

Heard in episode

Role Voice Actor
Connie Kendall Katie Leigh
Dale Jacobs Phil Lollar
George Barclay Chuck Bolte
Professor Ian Crenshaw Erv Immerman
John Whittaker Hal Smith
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz Genni Long
Man in the crowd #1 Phil Lollar
Man in the crowd #2 Chuck Bolte
Man in the crowd #3 Dave Arnold
Man in the crowd #4 Paul McCusker
Newscaster Bob Luttrell
Captain Richard Quinn Kenneth Mars
Woman in the crowd #1 Unknown
Woman in the crowd #2 Lynn Luttrell

Mentioned in episode

Character Mentioned By
Eugene Meltsner Connie Kendall
Alfred Brownlee John Whittaker
Donna Barclay George Barclay
Jessie Morales George Barclay
Bernard Walton John Whittaker


Notes

Trivia
  • "The Jesus Cloth" was written around the time the Dead Sea Scrolls were released to the public. Many people were conjecturing that the scrolls would contain material that was contradictory to Scripture. This led the Odyssey staff to ask, “Upon what are we basing our faith?”
  • Alfred Brownlee was referred to in this episode. He would later play a significant role in The Search for Whit, Parts 1-3.
  • Early in this episode Connie says in reference to Alfred Brownlee, "A real life Indiana Jones, huh?". This is a reference to the Indiana Jones movies.
Main article: List of Indiana Jones references

Quotes

Connie Kendall: You know, suddenly I'm beginning to feel very... warm.
John Whittaker: Oh, Connie.
Connie Kendall: No really, Whit, I think it's because of this cloth!
John Whittaker: I think it's because you're leaning up against the hot plate.
Connie Kendall: Huh? Ow, ow!


Dale Jacobs: What does the cloth, feel like?
John Whittaker: A cloth, Dale! That's what it is!
Dale Jacobs: Really? What a let down!


Connie Kendall: No, we haven't seen the ghost of John the Baptist!


John Whittaker: <reading a letter from Alfred> This sort of stuff has been going on for years. People finding a splinter from the Cross; a strap from Peter's sandal, or the Apostle Paul's toupee!


Connie Kendall: No, it [the cloth] wasn't delivered by space aliens!


John Whittaker: The "Jesus cloth?"
Dale Jacobs: That's the name Lucy gave it. Has a nice ring, dontcha think?
John Whittaker: No, I don't.
Dale Jacobs: ... Oh.