Devotion- Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the 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.

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 Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where
they have put him!" 3. Peter and the other disciple ran to the
tomb to see. 4. The other disciple outran 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 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!"

He Is Coming Back!!!!