The Shroud of Turin, thought to be the burial cloth of Christ, has always interested me. I recently became curious about the symbolism of hands in reference to works of art and noticed the position of the hands on the image of the Shroud, particularly the position of the thumbs. According to an article by Ray Zone, "Palmistry: Oppositions and Blessings," the position of the thumbs can be significant symbolism. He writes:
"The thumb at birth is generally hidden and folded under the other fingers. As the child matures and the personality develops, it opens and almost assumes a life of its own. During sleep, the thumb reverts to folding back again under the fingers. As the personality develops in life, the thumb becomes a vibrant display of character. At death, the thumb is once again folded under the fingers."
Another purpose I discovered for folding the thumb inward towards the palm is shown in the pictures below:
The "knife hand," also known as Sudo Makki, uses this position of the hand to strike an opponent as well as to block. This hand position is also used in the movie "Kill Bill" to direct one's energy before striking a blow to an opponent or an obstacle:
I also found, contrary to popular belief, that according to one online article in "The Finger," the thumbs-up gesture did not represent a sign to spare a gladiator's life in Ancient Rome. The article states, "A phlebian's pointed thumb or "pollice verso" (whether the thumb is pointed up, down, or somewhere in between, we don't know) meant the combatant was to be slain. A HIDDEN THUMB, folded out of sight, or the "pollice compresso," meant he was to be spared."
In a way, Jesus was like God's thumb. He was with God and God through Jesus, the Word made flesh, unfolded at the creation of the world. The gospel of John says that everything that was made was made by and through Him, and nothing exists apart from Him. God did all his work of creation in six days, and on the seventh day He rested. Then, when the time came for Jesus to come to earth, He did not come to do what He wanted, but He came to reveal the nature and character of God and to do God's will. If our thumb reveals our character and personality as we live our lives, Jesus lived His life in a way that revealed the character and personality of God, the Heavenly Father. He didn't do His own will, but He only did what He saw His Father doing, Jesus only expressed what he saw God's thumb print on, or he was the thumb print of God for us to behold. He was filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit, and He emptied Himself to the point of death, even dying on a cross so that God's will could be fulfilled and accomplished through Him.
In each of the descriptions I found about thumbs folded inward, I like this idea the best: That God in His love spared the world from judgment, death, and separation from Him, so that we can receive eternal life, which is to know Him. Since salvation is of Jewish origin, a "goyim" like me was far from God and without hope in the world apart from Him, and could only be brought near to God by the blood of Jesus' sacrifice by His death on the cross (Ephesians 2:13). He did this by folding his thumbs inward at the time of his death; through dying, he dealt a death blow to the one who had the power of death, and by separating our sins from us through His blood that was shed, He made a new and living way for us to be united to God. He broke through for us, so that death can no longer hold any power over us. Since this is the week of Christ's passion in the Coptic and Greek Orthodox Christian Church, we remember his power, not in the glory of his resurrection, but in the humility of his obedience and submission even to the point of a violent death. He did not oppose death, but entrusted his soul to a faithful Creator, and looked only to endure suffering, to love, to bear, and to save those who put Him to death. We are all part of that crowd, and are able to recognize his cry, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (I Peter 5:5 & James 4:6)
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