The Folded Napkin

THE FOLDED NAPKIN

Matthews 27:57-60; John 20:1-7

We are gathered this morning to celebrate the greatest event in recorded history: The glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Christ is one-third of the Gospel story (1 Corinthians 15:1-4): (1) He died for our sins. (2) He was buried. (3) He rose from the dead on the third day.

One often overlooked item of the story involved a simple NAPKIN.

1.  After Jesus cried from the cross, “It is finished,” and gave up the ghost, a disciple of Jesus named Joseph of Arimathaea pleaded with Pontius Pilate to have the body of Jesus for burial.

2.  Joseph removed Jesus’ body from the cross.

PULLING THE NAILS – REMOVING THE CROWN

• Wound the body in spices and linen clothes (Like a mummy).

• It was customary to wrap the face of the corpse with a napkin (cf. John 11:44)

• Jesus body is sealed in Joseph’s own tomb (Mt. 27:57-60).

• It appeared the ministry of Jesus was over.

3. Three gloomy days pass (John 20:1-7).

4. On the first day of the week Jesus rises from the dead!

5. Mary comes to the tomb and finds the stone rolled away. She thought someone stole the body of Jesus. Mary tells Peter and John.

6. Peter comes to the tomb and rushes in.

• He sees the linen clothes LYING as if the body of Jesus passed through the linen clothes leaving them empty (like a collapsed cocoon).

• He also saw the napkin that was wrapped about Jesus’ face folded in a different place by itself.

THE NAPKIN’S SIGNIFICANCE

1. The grave clothes lying empty indicated Jesus body was not stolen. Grave robbers would not take time to unwrap the body and leave the linens.

2. Why was the napkin folded and placed in a different place from the rest of the linen clothes?

HEBREW / ORIENTAL MEAL-TIME CUSTOMS—

• Typically, were no knives and forks. People ate using their hands.
• They would break bread and use it to scoop their food.
• After an Oriental meal, washing the hands again was essential.

If the master would wipe his hands with the napkin, wad it up in a pile and leave the table, the servant would know the master was finished and not coming back.

But, if the master folded the napkin before leaving, the servant would know he was wasn’t through, and would be coming back.

The folded napkin meant—“I’m not through yet. I’m coming back.”

That folded napkin said to Peter—“Peter, “I’m not dead and, I’ll be back.”

•The Bible says, “and he saw, and believed” (John 20:8).

Peter and John left the tomb with a new hope—A LIVING HOPE.

We need that! We need a living Savor! A Savior who is alive who can save us and comfort a broken heart!

SUMMATION:

Thank God the tomb is EMPTY. Thank God Jesus folded the NAPKIN, to remind us, He is alive! He is coming back.”

He is coming back to claim His own. Do you belong to Him? Have you received Him as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12)?

Jesus is alive and wants to give you the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9)

–Preached Easter, April 4, 2021 at Sunrise service in Fountain of the Sun community in Mesa AZ