Jesus Is Coming Back
Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings 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 apart from the other wrappings. (John 20:3-7)
It’s important that as we read today’s key passage of Scripture, that we do not miss the meaning and the symbolism represented by Jesus’ actions following His resurrection. As we take a closer look at the text, we will see that Jesus’ second coming is foreshadowed in the folded napkin John finds inside Jesus’ tomb.
The account records that when Peter entered the tomb of Jesus, he saw the napkin that covered Jesus’ head had been folded and neatly placed in the corner. Clearly, robbers would not have taken the time to do something like that. It’s something only Jesus would have done.
Its folding also spoke volumes to the audience that heard that story, for there is an ancient custom that when a man finishes his meal, he signals to the servants that he is done by balling up the napkin when he leaves the table. But if in the course of dining he has to leave the table and plans to return, he does not ball up the napkin, but he folds it to let the servants know he’s coming back.
When Jesus got up and folded the napkin, He was letting His servants know, “I’m coming back.” What a wonderful, thoughtful, and encouraging action Jesus took by simply folding the napkin after He rose from the dead. So moving forward, when we think about the folded napkin, we can be confident and expectant of Jesus’ return, knowing one day He is coming back for us.
It’s important that as we read today’s key passage of Scripture, that we do not miss the meaning and the symbolism represented by Jesus’ actions following His resurrection. As we take a closer look at the text, we will see that Jesus’ second coming is foreshadowed in the folded napkin John finds inside Jesus’ tomb.
The account records that when Peter entered the tomb of Jesus, he saw the napkin that covered Jesus’ head had been folded and neatly placed in the corner. Clearly, robbers would not have taken the time to do something like that. It’s something only Jesus would have done.
Its folding also spoke volumes to the audience that heard that story, for there is an ancient custom that when a man finishes his meal, he signals to the servants that he is done by balling up the napkin when he leaves the table. But if in the course of dining he has to leave the table and plans to return, he does not ball up the napkin, but he folds it to let the servants know he’s coming back.
When Jesus got up and folded the napkin, He was letting His servants know, “I’m coming back.” What a wonderful, thoughtful, and encouraging action Jesus took by simply folding the napkin after He rose from the dead. So moving forward, when we think about the folded napkin, we can be confident and expectant of Jesus’ return, knowing one day He is coming back for us.
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