Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

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. 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 and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to 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 knew that the fo lded napkin meant, 'I'm not finished yet.' The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

Scripture Challenge

I took the challenge to do the 52 week scripture challenge hosted by Pillar. Unfortunately, because of the move and packing/unpacking - I haven't been able to get started. So that I wouldn't lose the weeks word and the scriptures that touched me, I developed a spread sheet so that I could have the week number, word and scripture ideas. I am also keeping a journal and doing some sketches for pages that I want to do.

I decided that I will be doing an 8 x8 book and go from there. Will post as soon as I start making the pictures.

Jakes Trucks

Jake's Prayer
By Bill Jones

Jake, the rancher, went one dayto fix a distant fence.The wind was cold and gusty andthe clouds rolled gray and dense,As he pounded the last nail inand gathered tools to go.The temperature had fallenand the snow began to blow.When he finally reached his pickup,he felt a heavy heart,from the sound of that ignition,he knew it wouldn't start.So Jake did what most of us doif we'd have been there.He humbly bowed his balding headand sent aloft a prayer.As he turned the key for the last time,he softly cursed his luck.They found him three days later,frozen stiff in that old truck.Now Jake had been around in lifeand done his share of roamin'.But when he saw Heaven,he was shocked -- it look just like Wyomin'.Of all the saints in Heaven,his favorite was St. Peter.Now, this line, it ain't neededbut it helps with rhyme and meter.So they set and talked a minute or two,or maybe it was three,Nobody was keepin' score --in Heaven time is free."I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,"that God will answer prayers,But one time I asked for help,well He, just plain wasn't there.Does God answer prayers of some,and ignores the prayers of others?That don't seem exactly square --I know all men are brothers.Or does he randomly reply,without good rhyme or reason?Maybe, it's the time of day,the weather or the season.Now I ain't trying to act smart,it's just the way I feel,And I was wonderin', could you tell --what the heck's the deal?"Peter listened very patientlyand when Jake was done,There were smiles of recognition,and he said, "So, you're the one!That day your truck, it wouldn't start,and you sent your prayer a flying,You gave us all a real bad time,with hundreds of us a trying.A thousand angels rushed to checkthe status of your file,But you know, Jake, we hadn't heardfrom you in quite a whileAnd though all prayers are answered,and God ain't got no quota,He didn't recognize your voice,and started a truck in North Dakota."Moral of the story: Pray Early... and Pray Often

Cell Phones

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency

This is something to make you go....hmm... where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone,

we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected

because Jesus already paid the bill.

No dropped calls!

More new features than ever.

Makes you stop and think,

"Where are my priorities?"