Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin? Evidence
Why Did Jesus Fold His Burial Cloth?
This may seem like a strange question. Before someone asked me why Jesus folded the napkin in John 20:7, I had never really thought about it. Have you?
So, why did Jesus fold the napkin? In John 20:7 the KJV translates the Greek word, σουδάριον (soudarion), as napkin. The word itself simply means a piece of cloth. Other translations render this as “cloth,” “face-cloth,” or “handkerchief.” This cloth was traditionally used for different reasons: a burial cloth, towel, or even a handkerchief. The Scriptures tell us that this face cloth was not with the other linen cloths in the empty tomb after Christ rose from the dead. It was folded up in a place by itself. The immediate context tells us that the disciple whom Jesus loved went into the tomb, “and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead” (John 20:8b-9). The folded face cloth was evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Christ is an important and significant event. Not just for Christians. But for the whole world. Let’s dig deeper to understand the context of this passage and how the folded face cloth fits.
Understanding the Context
Before we dive into the explanation of the face cloth (napkin) as evidence for the resurrection, we must set the context. The book of John doesn’t begin with this verse. It has set the stage with much content leading up to this point. The Apostle John is not shy in giving his reason for writing this gospel account:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31, bold added)
John recorded everything that he did with a purpose. That purpose was to point to the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. In order that those who read it would come to Him, believe, and have eternal life in Him!
In the very beginning of John’s Gospel account, he records a detail that the other three do not contain. The first cleansing of the temple. (For more on why Jesus cleansed the temple see our article: Why Did Jesus Cleanse The Temple?) After Jesus cleansed the temple the Jews asked Him a very important question.
“What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (John 2:18)
The Jews were looking for a sign of Jesus’s authority over them. His authority to rebuke them for their wicked behavior. Jesus tells them of His authority.
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:19-22, bold added)
From the very beginning, John records Jesus’s words about His resurrection. All throughout the rest of the Gospel account John records Jesus speaking of His resurrection. In a multitude of different ways. Here are some of them:
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. (John 12:32-33)
“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” (John 14:28-29)
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” (John 16:16-20)
“I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:28)
Let’s fast forward to chapter 19 of John’s Gospel. This is after the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. After the last supper. After the betrayal of Christ by Judas. After the unlawful trial by night, the un-just scourging, and the handing over of Jesus to be crucified on a Roman Cross.
In John 19 there are two details that are also not recorded in the other Gospel accounts.
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also His tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scriptures which says,
“They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” (John 19:23-24, bold added)
And,
Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” and again another Scripture says, “They will look on Him whom they have pierced.” (John 19:31-37, bold added)
Why are these details significant? John has been very strategic here in making sure the readers understand that everything that has happened is in fulfillment of the Scriptures. That when we would read these things we would not disbelieve, but believe in God, through Christ.
John is clear in the very beginning that Jesus will rise from the dead. That on the third day He will raise up His body from the grave because death has no hold on Him.
The Folded Napkin as Evidence of the Resurrection
As noted earlier Jesus declared a sign at the very beginning of His earthly ministry. That His body, the temple, would be destroyed. But in three days it would be raised up again (John 2:18-19). John says,
When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:22)
When he records the resurrection in chapter 20, John writes,
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Bothe of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. (John 20:1-10, bold added)
Several things are important to note for contextual understanding. When Mary Magdalene saw the stone of the tomb rolled away, she immediately thought that Jesus’s body was stolen (John 20:2). With this gut-wrenching thought in the mind of Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, they ran to the tomb and looked in. What they found surprised them.
With Mary’s words in their mind as they were running they probably were expecting to find nothing. Or to find the cloths thrown all over the place. Grave robbers are not to concerned with cleanliness and order.
Yet, this was NOT the scene they entered into. For it says,
He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. (John 20:6-7, bold added)
The response of the disciple whom Jesus loved was not shock. It wasn’t confusion. But the Scriptures say,
he saw and believed. (John 20:8)
With the linen cloths lying there and the face cloth folded up in a place by itself, the disciple believed. This was evidence to the disciple of the resurrection of Christ!
The words spoken by Jesus after the cleansing of the temple were finally understood. The temple of Jesus’s body was destroyed on the cross. But on the third day it was re-built. Resurrected. Jesus is risen in fulfillment of the Scriptures and His own words! It was the linen cloths and the folded face cloth (napkin, KJV), that was the evidence of the resurrection for this disciple.
For more on the importance of the resurrection of Jesus see our articles:
Related Question
Is there evidence that the resurrection accounts are historically accurate and true? This historical accuracy of the Bible has been attacked and scrutinized from every angle. Yet, the Bible continues to stand the test of time. The historical reliability, particularly on the historical resurrection of Jesus, is of the utmost importance. For more, check out this article from our friends at Fourth Year Ministries: A Sure Faith.