“So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen” (John 20:3-7).
Verse 6b-7 says, “He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.”
The Greek literally says, “The napkin which was upon his head was not with the linen cloth lying but was by itself neatly folded up.”
So, why am I even bringing this up? What difference does any of this make?
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.
Was that important? Absolutely!
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, 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!”
Praxis: Faith in Action 