Happy Easter Everyone! Here’s a post from an Easter a few years ago!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… 1 Peter 1:3
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:8-11
God bless you on this holiest of days. He is risen!
Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin?
An interesting email I received today:
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, 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 the 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, 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!!!
Easter is one of my favorite holidays because we get to take time to worship the man above for his glorious sacrifice that he made for everyone
I agree, it is a wonderful day. I watched part of the movie “The Passion” last night, which really makes me appreciate his sacrifice all the more. Thank God for His supreme love and sacrifice!
This is a sweet story BUT biblically untrue.John wrapped Jesus in a shout which is a sheet. It is one piece not two. Also during the time of Christ they did not have napkins. They wiped their fingers on their clothes.
I don’t believe this is accurate:
In Jewish/Hebrew culture, when they buried a body, they actually covered the face with a Tallit, which is a prayer shawl which is much larger than a typical tablecloth or napkin. It covers the head and shoulders and extends to the waist. The Tallit is given to a young person by their father or by their Rabbi and is considered holy and sacred and when it’s not worn or being used, it is to be folded and kept in a special place. The reason the scripture (John 20:7) explains that the napkin was folded and placed aside is definitely a message from Jesus, but the message is this: he was proving to the world that no thief broke in and stole his body. If a thief were to break in and steal the body, he would have left the burial cloths tossed aside in disorganization and not taken any time to fold the napkin. Jesus was leaving the message that he most certainly was resurrected as he taught and that he voluntarily walked out of the tomb. Remember, the napkin, or Tallit was a personal item that belonged to the individual and was sacred and Holy and Jesus knew this which is why he left it folded and set aside to represent that it was personal to him.
Thanks for reposting this Peter, This is a great story and gives significance to something I would have otherwise overlooked when reading it.
This is great! Thanks for sharing.
I am looking forward to that day! May it be soon….come Lord Jesus come!