Saturday, April 7, 2012

WHY DID JESUS FOLD HIS NAPKIN?



Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and Idon't know where they have put him!" Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant - and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating.  The servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished. Now, when the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would then wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant "I'm done."

But if the master got up from the table, folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.......... the folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

JESUS IS COMING BACK!

Have a victorious Resurrection Day!

Humbly loving you,
Bishop Gabe

Photo from: stockfreeimages.

4 comments:

  1. This will always be one of my favorite sermon/blog posts! It gives me goosebumps AND tears!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Princess Bombshell. It is a good reminder of His return.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is one of my favorites ALSO!!! I was JUST talking about it, and came "searching" for it ;) THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Leona. It is a powerful thought.

    ReplyDelete