The Napkin About His Head

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whirlwind

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John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.


I just received an e-mail and thought it very interesting....I hope you enjoy it as did I.

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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 stopped 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 finished.."

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!"
 

whirlwind

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John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.


Wrapped ~ #1794 from 1722 (to twist; prob akin to 1507) to entwine, wind up in, wrap in [together]


The napkin was "wrapped," perhaps wrapped in together....which is folded. Or, from the above, the definition could be twisted....Bullinger thought it was a turban, as in twisted about the head. But that doesn't seem correct for we read about the napkin and Lazarus....


John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.​

The napkin was around the face of Lazarus, where it was around the head of Christ. Lazarus was still wrapped in graveclothes but the linen clothes of Christ were left behind as was the napkin but it was in a separate spot.

Being wrapped about the head of Christ brings the following to mind.....

Corinthians 11:3-4 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.​

If we are one of His elect, a man child (no gender), then the napkin is to be removed! What removes that veil and brings us out of our graves?

The description of "wrapped" tells us it is from #1722......


#1722 ~ a primary prep; denoting [fixed] position, (in place, time or state), and (by impl) instrumentality imedially or constructively, i.e. a relation of rest.....(snip).....quickly, shortly, speedily,

I find that fascinating as Jesus tells us.....


Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Quickly ~ #5035 shortly, i.e. without delay, soon, or (by surprise), suddenly, or (by impl.) of ease) readily - lightly, quickly.​

From the above definitions I see the verse telling us, as put forth in the OP, that the folded napkin is a sign of Jesus coming back...quickly/suddenly. The lesson we are taught about the napkin, I believe, is directed to His elect. The napkin over a face is....a veil!


11 Corinthians 3:13-16 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;​

He removes the veil, the napkin and brings us out of our graves...as He did Lazarus. We are then to see and hear...with understanding, for it is the Spirit that speaks to us and reveals the spirit in the words of the law and prophecy.