Thursday, March 25, 2010

FOLDED 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 at the head of that stony coffin.

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 I don'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 stopped 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. 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. When the table was furnished perfectly, 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 if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard. He 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 finished." 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.

Why? The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

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AND SO HE SHALL!



2 comments:

  1. As the sun is just coming up right now over the neighbors' pines, I am reminded that He could come today. I love the early mornings (unlike some people) when the dawn's first light touches the trees and the dark shadows turn gray and then turn to soft colors. It constantly reminds me that He could come today. Beautiful blog!

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  2. Praise the Lord, he could come back at any time!!

    I am looking forward to that!!

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