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.
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 and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to 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 knew that the folded napkin meant, 'I'm not finished yet.'
The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'
IF YOU BELEIVE HE IS COMING BACK - PASS IT ON, I DID!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin?
Posted by Rick L. Phillips at 6:48 PM
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3 comments:
Very interesting theory but where is the historical/biblical verification?
That would be a cool story... if only it were true. There are at least a few problems with it, though.
The word that is translated 'napkin' (KJV) in the Greek (soudarion, originating from Latin) is not a dining table napkin, but a burial cloth for the head, or the word was sometimes used to refer to a 'sweat rag'. Another problem is that I cannot find any 'napkin-wrapping custom' in any of my reference books. And still another possible problem is that the term translated 'folded' (entulisso) can also mean 'rolled' or 'twisted'. Additionally, Christ did not come back to any meal or or even to sit around in the empty tomb. The only records we have are that He didn't go back into the empty tomb (Matthew 28:6), but instead appeared to over 500 people. The closest to being around the tomb after He rose was the time that He spoke with Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb (John 20:1-18). Also, when He returns He is not coming back to the empty tomb, but to the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:1-11; Zechariah 14:3-4).
More likely the folded, rolled or twisted burial cloth was noted because if Christ's body had been stolen, they would (in haste) have either taken the body in the wrappings, or would have cast the cloth off quickly, not taking time to fold or roll it up carefully or even to twist it. The folded, rolled or twisted head cloth is evidence that Christ's body was indeed resurrected, but not stolen. So in the end what John wrote was the coolest story possible - Christ is risen indeed!
So Gord was wise to question this mistaken e-rumor. The truth, however, is even better.
By the grace of our risen Lord,
Vern Peterman, pastor
Holly Hills Bible Church
Denver, CO
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/folded-napkin.htm
And Jesus DID NOT fold his linen cloth. Does Jesus needs to unwine the cloth to get out of it? NO! He can easily go through it. What I believe John was trying to depict is that Jesus' body was evaporated from the linen cloth.
"6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,"
The greek word for "lying" is "undisturbed".
We must remember that New testement was written in greek and latin.
So yes.
God Bless!
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