The Napkin

The Napkin

The following article entitled “Why did Jesus fold the napkin?” is being circulated around the Internet via email. It is said to have been launched some time in 2007 (apparently from a sermon by a Baptist preacher, Jerry Shirley, preached in 2006).

There is a good deal of controversy regarding the accuracy of the premise of the sermon, but it is interesting to contemplate as we await Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday and the celebration of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

An unusual approach to a biblical story. Why was the burial 'napkin' around Jesus' head folded 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 tossed aside as were the other grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire passage 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 to find 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!

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 when the master came to the table, the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. The servant would not touch the table, until the master was finished.

If the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would signal that his meal was concluded by wadding his napkin and tossing it onto the table. The servant then knew to clear the table, for 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 touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

JESUS is Coming Back!