Sheryll Lynn discussed the meaning behind the folded face cloth on Jesus’ empty tomb.
Folded face cloth
In a viral Facebook post with over 270,000 shares, a detail in the Bible that is often overlooked offers some interesting insight. In John 20:7, it was written that “the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head,” was “not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.”
The question Sheryll wanted to discuss was: Why did Jesus fold the face cloth after his resurrection? That very small detail is significant for knowing more about Jesus Christ. Sheryll share that in Hebrew tradition, folding the napkin in a table set up meant something for the Master and the servant.
“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. 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, and his mouth, and clean his beard. And would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table,” she explained.
Jesus’ empty tomb
But if the master folded the napkin and laid it neatly beside his plate, it meant that he was not yet done with his meal. A servant knows that his master will come back to finish his meal because of that small detail. Now what does that tradition have to do with Jesus’ resurrection?
The folded face cloth in His empty tomb meant that His works were not yet done. It meant that Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He was resurrected to finish what He had started.
Read also: WHY IS WAITING AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SPIRITUALITY?
Reference: Facebook | Sheryll Lynn
Header Image: Sheryll Lynn [@sheryll.lynn]. Folded Face Cloth. Facebook, April 3, 2023, https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6129898940465275&set=a.586421488146409