The Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus at his burial, 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.
John 20:1-7: [NIV] “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.”
Why did Jesus fold the napkin? 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, 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!"
John 14:1-3 [NIV] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going thee to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and taker you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
When we celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth, living as a man, being crucified as a sacrifice for our sins, raising from the dead and returning to the Father in heaven. Let us remember the folded napkin. HE IS COMING BACK.
by Bob Creamer
FRIENDS:
Father, You have revealed Yourself to me and have called for my complete surrender and yet I shrink back and hesitate. I have given a measure of surrender but have not given You the utter abandonment, without any reserves that You have asked for. I am afraid that it involves too much and is too great a risk. But You say that You love me and will manifest yourself to me. You have given all and so should I . Help me to meet Your measureless devotion with such devotion of my own. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE - JUNE
Luke Ephesians Psalms 1 Kings
1. 1:1-25 1:1-14 119:1-8 1
2.. 1:26-38 1:15-23 119: 9-16 2-3
~First Kings~
The book starts with Solomon and ends with Elijah. The difference between the two gives you an idea as to what lies between.
Solomon might never have been born had it not been for the palace scandal between David and Bathsheba. Not the best of beginnings. He picked up some of his father's traits, both good and bad. Like his dad, he got off to a good start. But like his dad, he had a weakness for women that undid him.
You have to wonder what it was like growing up in a house where your father had several wives and your siblings wore swords to the dinner table. Solomon did well at first, praying for wisdom and building a temple that would have bankrupted most nations.
He took seven years building it. But then he spent thirteen years building a palace for himself. Somewhere around mid-life he got off track. His taste for wives (he was known to have accumulated some seven hundred or so) led him to worship whom they worshiped. This, in turn, led him away from God. His nation followed suit, and even the preaching of Elijah couldn't bring them back.
Not that Elijah didn't try. Toward the end of this book you'll read of the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In a classic my-God-is-greater-than-yours encounter, Jehovah won hands down. God was exhaulted. But Queen Jezebel, a leading Baal-worshiper, was infuriated.
She ordered Elijah's death, so Elijah ran. He ran until he was so tired and discouraged that he sat down under a bush and said, "Let me die" (19:12).
What does God do with tired servants who want to quit? In a tender moment the God who'd brought fire on the mountain sent food to the prophet and shispered his affection in a "quiet gentle sound" (19:12)
What a Father.
What a book! In between Solomon and Elijah, you'll find it all. Rebellion, corruption, courage, faith. You'll see that their world is much like ours. Things haven't changed much.
And God? God hasn't changed at all. The quiet, gentle sound that encouraged Elijah? Listen as you read. It will encourage you.
FOOD:
Starbucks (Copycat) Chocolate Espresso Pudding
1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar.
1/4 Cup Cornstarch.
3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa.
1 Tablespoon Instant Coffee Granules.
1/8 Teaspoon Salt.
2 Cups Whole Milk.
2 Ounces Bitter-Sweet Chocolate (Chopped).
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium, heavy-saucepan, stir well with a whisk.
Gradually stir in milk and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 1 minute or until thick. Remove from heat, add chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in vanilla. Pour about 1/2 cup pudding into each of 4 dessert dishes; Cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours. Remove plastic wrap just before serving.
FUN:
JUST GIVE ME 2 MINUTES. 2 MINUTES IS ALL I NEED AND I WILL BE GOOD AS NEW!
This was me (except that I am an old dog, not a pup) when the lovely Mrs. Fairchild was here visiting me a short time ago. And this is me now, resting up for her return visit.
