The Meaning of The Folded Napkin

The Meaning of The Folded Napkin

Why did Yashua, Christ Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? John 20:7 tells us that the napkin, which was placed over Yashua's face, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. Rather, the napkin was neatly folded and placed at the head of that stony coffin.

1) 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.2) She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Master's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they put Him!"3) Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. 4) The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. 5) He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. 6) Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there. 7) While the cloth that had covered Yashua's head was folded up and lying to the side.

Why is this detail important?According to the Hebrew tradition of that day, when the servant set the dinner table for his master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. When table was furnished perfectly the servant would wait, just out of sight, until his master had finished eating. When the master was done he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth and his beard, then wad up the 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!"

He is Coming Back!

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