An unusual approach to a biblical story.
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth
after His resurrection? Did you ever noticed this
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 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.Is 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,and 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
and would 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,and 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!'And
'He is Coming Back!'
Have a Blessed Day!
Author Unknown
