The Napkin

I received an email from a dear friend of mine this morning asking if I know the following tradition to be true and I post it here with my response. Please tell me what you guys think.
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Hi James!
Is this true about the tradition as you know it??

The Napkin:
This is really beautiful, with such significance. I truly hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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 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.

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!'
He is Coming Back SOON!! Be READY!
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My response sans greetings and names:

Honestly, I don't know if this is true or not. It may very well be.
John's Gospel is really loaded to the gills with theological imagery, so he certainly may have meant that and doubtless Christ did!!

For sure it must mean that someone had been there with care and respect. I.e., not a grave robber. John then *knew* that He had risen and not been simply moved. But even now, what is civilized at the table while one still sits and is present with company having finished the meal but to fold the napkin?

As for the Master/servant relationship, though it is true and valid, Christ always referred to Himself as servant. He is, after all, the serving Master.

Let's not forget anyway that every one of the Gospels intends to show that Christ was coming back soon anyway - if not as Judge, then at least as Comforter. Remember, both John the Baptist and Christ preached that the Kingdom of God is at hand!! That means right now! Christ tells us the temple of God lies within the very heart of His worshippers, so we may, by His mercy, provision and Spirit, all live in the Kingdom right this very moment!

I fully expect Christ to come bashing through the door any minute to retake this world, but until He does, He knocks ever so gently -out of GREAT and tender mercy- on each of our hearts. Because, if He isn't "in" us when He tears through this world and those doors come crashing in, we won't survive a moment of it!!

Stay watchful, hopeful and forever prayerful dear one, but live for this day, today, right now. The present is a great present, and it's as close to eternity as we will know this side of heaven! Today is the day of salvation!