Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin

The Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin , which was placed over the face of Jesus , was just not thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark , Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put Him!”

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.  He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrapping lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.

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 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, his mouth and clean his beard, and would 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 done!”

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 means, I’m coming back!

Happy Resurrection Day!

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Your Comfort Zone

Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. ² I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

A comfort zone can be a situation in which you feel no threats of harm or danger, and when your ability or determination is not being tested. A comfort zone can also be an area where you don’t have to try anything difficult or new, because you like things just the way that they are at the present time.

Many times a person can be living in a comfort zone unintentionally and feel that there will be a risk in moving out of that comfort zone to unfamiliar or untested areas. Change does not come easy for many people and there are basically two ways to move out of a comfort zone:

1. A decision is made on your own to make a change.

2. God calls upon you to take a step of faith and trust Him.

In Abram’s situation, God calls upon him to “get out” of the comfort zone that he was in. There are several other things that have to be taken into consideration with Abram leaving his comfort zone.

First God gives Abram clear directions and instructions;

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.”

Second God makes several promises to Abram;

A promise of increase.

“I will make you a great nation”

A promise to become well known.

“I will bless you And make your name great”

Then God gives Abram A prophecy;

“And you shall be a blessing”

God continues to speak into Abram’s life with additional promises;

“I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The only way that Abram would receive what God had for him was for Abram to obey God, and that meant getting out of his comfort zone, and having faith that God would do what He said He would do.

As I stated earlier is this blog, there will be times when a decision has to made on our own to get out of our comfort zone. The current pandemic of COVID-19 has not only disrupted the routine of a person’s daily life, COVID-19 has also caused people to have to make the decision to get out of their comfort zone.

Social distancing, quarantine and mass shut in, are just a few of the adjustments that will have to made once a person has gotten out of their comfort zone. This is a time when our faith in God can be put to the test. Once we are out of our comfort zone, will we walk by faith, or what we see?

“Father in heaven, You did not bring us this far to leave us. We pray that You will continue to lead and guide Your people with making any adjustment that have to be made being out of our comfort zone. We give You the praise, the glory and the honor in Jesus name…Amen!”

Continuing in His service…Rev

The Right Hand Of God

A person’s hands are involved in almost all of a person’s activities, and can do the will of the entire person.

Psalm 24:4 “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.” (NKJV)

I have noticed something that is being said repeatedly that should be done that to assist with stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus, that is “washing our hands.”

All through scripture we can find the phrase “Righteous Right Hand.” In Isaiah 41:10, the word of God says “I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Make no mistake about it, God does not need to “wash His Hands” in order to overcome the COVID-19 virus. God already has all power in His hands.

In spite of what it may look like, and what we are hearing about the spread of this COVID-19 virus, God is remaining true to His word.

God’s people have no need to fear about what is happening around them, because the righteousness of God’s right hand will keep God’s people safe from harm or danger.

Exodus 15:6 “Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” (KJV)

With the righteousness of God’s right hand, the enemy will be dashed into pieces, and God’s people will claim the victory over this virus.

Psalm 20:6 “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.”(NKJV)

“O God, thank you for your strength and help during this pandemic of COVID-19. Because of who You are, we your people can walk in obedience to your word, therefore having no reason to live in fear or become dismayed. You told us in your word that You would “never leave us or forsake us”, so even if a believer was to contract COVID-19, your word says “by your stripes we are healed.” Thank you for your protection, and the upholding of your people with Your righteous right hand. Only you deserve the praise, the glory and the honor.“

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

In Jesus name, Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

God is still in control

And always will be Sovereign

2^nd Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.”

At the present time, across the United States and other countries around the world, the corona-virus has become pandemic and is causing drastic changes in the life styles of many people.  

Fear and anxiety are two of the enemies’ weapons, and can take control of what a person thinks or how they feel, especially if they take their focus off of God.

The more a person struggles with fear, the more likely they will be overwhelmed by it, thus allowing fear to take control over choices and decisions that need to be made.

Reading and hearing the word of God will give the believer power, love and a sound mind to overcome any fears or anxiety that someone may be experiencing.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;“

Believers cannot afford to get caught up in worldly views of what is going on around them. The decision that has to be made is to walk by faith and not by sight.

2nd Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

God still is protecting His people, He is a refuge.

Psalm 46:1“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

God can bring joy to the soul during tough times

Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

Believers have to continue to pray, give thanks and keep their focus on God.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

“Lord Jesus, You said in your word “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” In spite of what it may look like, or what happens, we your people will continue to walk by faith, believing that You are sovereign and still in control. My prayer is that not only in this time of this pandemic corona-virus, but on a daily basis, your people will continue to acknowledge You in their lives. You made provision in the wilderness for forty years, and continue to make provision now each and every day. May we always give You praise, glory and honor that only You rightly deserve. May your people continue to walk by faith in you and have no fear of what they see or hear about conditions going on around them, in Jesus name…Amen!”

Continuing in His service…Rev