Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin?

John 20:6-7 (NLT)
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.

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.

John 20:1-10 (NLT)
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 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 line wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was 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. After the table was furnished perfectly 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!'

He is Coming Back!

Contributor - Anonymous

Now, is this not awesome? Even a small detail like this folding of the napkin (John 20:7) that is mentioned in the Bible has its significance. It goes to show that no small detail in the Bible are in-significant. If the Holy Spirit sees fit to mention it in the Bible, it is worth contemplating its significance.

The following passage makes reference to Jesus return

Luke 12:35-38 - Be Ready for the Lord Coming
Matthew 24 - Jesus Foretells the Future

However, no one knows when this will happen and this is stated by Jesus Himself, but He did give an indication of what the world would be like at the time of His return.

Matthew 24:36-37 (NLT)
36 "However, no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
37 "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day.

So until His return, a word of encouragement.

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (NLT)
7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 He will keep you strong right up to the end, and he will keep you free from all blame on the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
9 God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.