The Christ of the Folded Napkin
— Friday, April 9th, 2010 —
My friend and fellow Touchstone senior editor Patrick Henry Reardon wrote something that prompted me to shut down my computer and pray.
In his “Pastoral Ponderings” email, Reardon notes the Apostle John’s mention in his resurrection account that the kerchief which had been on Jesus’ face “not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself” (John 20:7). Reardon writes:
“That instant of the Resurrection of Jesus was the most decisive moment in the history of the world. It was the event of deepest importance for every human being who ever lived. It was the supreme kairos. The Law and the Prophets were fulfilled in that moment, and the existence of the human race took on an utterly new meaning.
“What, however, was the first thing Jesus did when the Resurrection life came surging into His body? The simplest and plainest thing imaginable: He reached up, pulled the kerchief from His face, folded it, and set it aside, as though it had been a napkin used at breakfast.”
Reardon concludes by writing this:
“The universal Christ, the eternal Word in whom all things subsist, was still the same Jesus, to whom an act of elementary neatness came naturally. He spontaneously did what He would likely have done in any case, much as another man might unconsciously scratch his ear, or yet another look around for a stick to whack the weeds with as he walked along.
“The risen Lord was the same Jesus His friends had always known. He had just returned from the realm of hell, where He trampled down death by death. He was on the point of going forth as a giant to run His course. He was about to begin appearing to His disciples, providing them with many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
“Nonetheless, He was still the same person, whose instinctive habits remained identical. First, He took a moment to fold the kerchief He had used, and only then did He stride out to change the direction of history and transform the lives of human beings.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever given any thought to the face kerchief in that empty tomb before. But this word prompted me to pray, and to thank God for a Messiah who is not just Christ but Jesus. He is a Person, with practices and habits. He can be known.
Praise be to God for the Christ of the folded napkin.
I’ve read that the “kerchief” was actually his tallit as was Jewish tradition.
There apparently is a certain way that it is to be folded. So after reading your post, it is funny considering what He had just been through and, more importantly, what He had just done that He would take the time to properly fold His prayer Shawl.
Brilliant insight and very timely for me, as I will be leading a Bible study on this passage in the coming week. Thank you for sharing it!
It’s just brilliant!
no offense, but that seems like a lot to read into a folded up tissue? maybe it was one of the angels’ doing?
Just reading this reminds me of how true the account of the Resurrection is. Why take the time or words to describe this simple detail unless it was something the witnesses saw? I think this lends further credence to the Gospel account.
He has for many years been my Lord and Savior; and this most wonderful time of the year The Risen Christ. Thank you for giving me back Jesus, the same one I started with; but who got lost in seminary and the years since.
This simple task of Jesus folding this face cloth was included in God’s inerrant Word for a reason. I’m with you, praise God for the folded napkin. He is God and he is man who knows what we experience every second of every day.