Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

[mssurrendered]

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?


Found this at Scripture Studies
Posted by Dr's Denis and Marti O'Callaghan on April 1, 2009 at 3:25pm in Devotional corner

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?


This is one I can honestly say I have never seen circulating in the emails so; I'll start it, if it touches you and you want to -- forward it.



Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this....



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..



"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.


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. 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!'

 

[GarrickBrewer]

Wow that is very intresting, I think i will show that to my pastor!

 

[MPaul]

It's an interesting question and one well worth considering. I've also always wondered -- after Christ removed his burial cloth, where did he get the clothes he then put on?

My experience has always been, that these questions can be answered in a satisfying way, when they are pursued through prayer. It might take some time.

It always amazes me what God is willing to answer by prayer, even for someone as insignificant spiritually as myself. I remember in 1996 a prayer I said on the influence of Luther on Tyndale -- which everyone reading Hebrew always wondered about. In 2001, I was posting with a person in a language translation forum, and he told me a rough draft of Tyndale's work had been discovered in a library in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1996, which definitely showed the influence of Luther. He gave me a link to the website -- and although I do not know German, I was able to discern enough.

So I am going to pray about it, and I won't be surprised when the answer comes.

 

[tturt]

mssurrendered, thanks for posting. I had seen this a few years ago and it really touched me. When we understand Jewish culture, many of the Scriptures take on an entirely different perspective. I always find it amazing.

 

[lilmissmontana]

I'm glad you posted this ... it's on a thread in the archives buried somewhere ... weird ... I needed to find it Sunday morning and couldn't and then here it is ...

such a cool post, ms ... thank you!

 

[Torah]

.

 

[LinkH]

What is the primary source for this napkin tradition?

This explanation sounds a bit forced to me. Dead bodies were unclean according to the law. Food had to be clean. I don't know that a folded burial napkin would bring to mind the idea of eating food to the Jewish mind of the day.

Maybe Christ, or the angel was neat and didn't leave a mess behind. A folded napkin showed would not make sense if a man's body were stolen.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

The version I heard was that the "Napkin" was actually Jesus' "Tallit" or "Prayer shawl" which he would have had as an Orthodox Jew. HE would have covered his head with it to pray according to tradition. and it would accompany him in death as a head covering.

It would be a natural and habitual thing for Him to fold it and lay it aside when He left it.

 

[Torah]

The version I heard was that the "Napkin" was actually Jesus' "Tallit" or "Prayer shawl" which he would have had as an Orthodox Jew. HE would have covered his head with it to pray according to tradition. and it would accompany him in death as a head covering.

It would be a natural and habitual thing for Him to fold it and lay it aside when He left it.

This is true even today! A tallit is given to a young man by his parents or his congregation or Shabbat school, just before he is Bar Mitzvah. A Jewish man is buried in his Tallit.
Tallit (prayer shawl) means “Little Tent” it is a “small tent” where one can go to commune with G-d. At the corners of this Tallit are tied tzitzit- (tassel)

In Numbers 15:37-41 the Israelites were commanded to where Tzitziyot (plural of tzitzit- tassel) These tassels are tied in such a manner as to reach a numerical value of 613. This is the number of commandments contained in the Torah. The tzitzit was also a reminder by the numerical value of each windings of the cords the Hebrew Phrase “Adonai Ekhad” (The Lord is one) there is no other G-d. The tzitzit are worn on everyday garment to remind him of G-d and his Commands. The Tallit (prayer shawl) is worn during services or prayer.

When a Jewish man dies the tzitzit- tassel are cut off of his Tallit before he is buried. This represents that he is no longer obligated to follow the commandments.

When David cut off the edge of the robe of king Saul garment was a clear symbol of death. (1 Samuel 24)

When Yeshua was laid in the tomb it was very clear that he was dead in his body. But by his folded Tallit with out it’s tzitzit was a clear symbol that he was ALIVE!

 

[lilmissmontana]

What is the primary source for this napkin tradition?

This explanation sounds a bit forced to me. Dead bodies were unclean according to the law. Food had to be clean. I don't know that a folded burial napkin would bring to mind the idea of eating food to the Jewish mind of the day.

Maybe Christ, or the angel was neat and didn't leave a mess behind. A folded napkin showed would not make sense if a man's body were stolen.

interesting point

well, you can see already that there are a lot of opinions on this ... and to show you how many

Jesus and the folded napkin truth - Google Search

it should be mentioned that a lot of things are different for Jewish than Gentile ... not necessarily different as don't apply (although some things don't) ...

for instance Christians celebrate Passover differently than Jewish ... but still celebrate it ... not positive, but I believe they celebrate 8 days with an order to things ... we take communion as the feast of the unleavened bread, by scripture ...

all that to say ... the folding of the napkin would certainly start with tradition and religious orientation ... Jesus was Jewish, so it would stand to reason if it was the custom ... then so it was ...

I guess my conclusion is ... it sounds like something that would be true ... and seems harmless if it isn't ...

jmho

 

[lilmissmontana]

I just went out and checked 3 pages of those links ... it seems to be the consensus that no one knows where this story arrived from ...

I like it, anyway ... it sems like something He would do ... guess I just wouldn't teach it ...

it's sad to me to think some child might be told this somewhwere with child-like innocense ... to have someone come and crush it with words that make no difference to a babe in Christ ...

 

[WindBreath]

Very cool inquiry! Thanks for posting

 

[mssurrendered]

See,our pastor gave it to us in our news bulletin this week.I had read it before,and had found it very intresting,so I put it on here.I`m not saying its exactly what happened.The bible dosen`t tell us,so I would never state something I don`t know for sure.I try to never to give my opinion on something unless I know its the truth.

 

[lilmissmontana]

See,our pastor gave it to us in our news bulletin this week.I had read it before,and had found it very intresting,so I put it on here.I`m not saying its exactly what happened.The bible dosen`t tell us,so I would never state something I don`t know for sure.I try to never to give my opinion on something unless I know its the truth.

exactly ... I agree it really is interesting and, yes, some things we'll never know, as a dear friend said to me ... some things are just about faith and believing ... He speaks to whom He will what He will using whatever or whomever He will ... the veil was rent ...

it doesn't go against scripture ... I kind of think to believe it might mean that is sweet and focused ... for me, if it doesn't go against scripture, then who knows ...

 

[tturt]

Torah, thank you so much for posting. I appreciate it!