By Brenda Cannon Henley
The question was asked, “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 separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, my favorite Bible character, 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 outran 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 every detail written in the Scripture 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. That was his job and he did it well.

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 were 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!’

I am told that this exact tradition followed down through history to the deep south plantations. The servants of a main house would wait quietly at the edge of a room or just outside the doorway in a hall ready to respond if summoned by the owner. They would not, however, begin to clear the table or remove dishes or food until the owner signaled he and his family or guests were finished with the meal.

The careful folding of the napkin means to believers that He is coming back for His children. No man knows exactly when that grand event will happen. The Bible clearly states that only God the Father knows.

My longtime pastor and employer, Dr. Curtis Hutson, now deceased, believed the rapture or catching away of believers could happen in his lifetime. But, he always added, “No man knows the hour or the day. Either way, I will live with Him in Heaven.”

He described the world conditions shortly before his death. Things were getting bad. Murders, rapes, lack of respect for human life, little respect for elders, wars, rumors of wars, pestilence, weather events, and more. It has only worsened since his passing.

I remember he told the story of an exciting play at his high school. Dr. Hutson said in the days prior to the opening performance, students, teachers, sponsors, and parents cleaned the old building, worked on sets for the stage, and supervised the long rehearsals until everything was ready. “The stage was being set for a wonderful event.” And then he would add, “I sincerely believe that is where we are in worldwide events today. The stage is being set for the return of the Lord. I do not know exactly when it will happen, and neither do you. But it will happen. Are you ready should it be today? Are your family and loved ones ready? This is the time to make certain of your eternal salvation.”

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781 8788, or
[email protected]

[BCH: Jul-25-2023]