The Linen Burial Cloth

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

The gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face that Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes, The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, well it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away for the entrance. She read and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, The one in 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's stupid and logged in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Did Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrapping slide there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus in was folded up and lying to the side.

Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, You have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. Call the napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, In every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant said 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 then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, in the server would not dare touch the 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 bench, "I'm done."

But, if the master got up the table, and folded his napkin, And later beside his plate, The servant would not dare touch the table, because... The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

Jesus Christ is coming back!

William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Apostolic Theological Seminary

Linen Garments

Hello Everyone.  Praise the Lord!

The tombs of the Pharaohs in Egypt show that linen was used for burial cloth, and its seeds were considered crucial to the afterlife; as a result, linen seeds have been found in the tombs. The Biblical account of Joseph in Egypt shows that he wore fine linen garments and was embalmed (mummified) in the usual Egyptian method after his death (Genesis Chapters 41-42 & Chapter 50). By New Testament times, linen was still being used for burials, as seen the case burial of Jesus in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 20.

The Israelites in the wilderness, after fleeing Egypt were instructed by God to make linen garments for the priests, and to weave the tabernacle curtains with twisted linen fibers of red, blue and purple to make the design of the cherubim, as well as plain linen for use as curtains surrounding the Holy Precinct (Exodus Chapters 28, 31, 35, 36, 38 and 39). Linen was used again in the curtains of the Temple built by Solomon (I Kings 10, II Chronicles Chapters 2 and 3), some of which was imported from Egypt. Solomon also used linen for his bedding (Proverbs 7:16). Ezekiel Chapter 44 describes that in the future temple built by the Jews in Jerusalem, the priests will again wear linen garments.

Linen was a symbol of purity in Biblical times, and it is recorded in the prophets that angelic beings appeared, wearing fine linen garments (Ezekiel Chapters 9 and 10; Daniel Chapters 10 and 12; and Revelation Chapter 15). Revelation Chapters 15 and 19 also records that saints, slain as martyrs, are clothed in fine linen. Words such as “pure” and “clean” denote that the symbolism of righteousness as well as holiness was attached to the wearing of linen. The symbolism of filth and spiritual distance from God is seen in the example of the garments of the Priest Joshua, as Satan rebukes him for standing before a Holy God wearing filthy linen garments (Zechariah Chapter 3).

Ancient Jewish sources note that when the priests had unremovable stain on their linen garments, or the garments had excessive wear, the garments were torn into strips and recycled for use as candle wicks. This fact is displayed in Isaiah’s commentary, where linen candlewicks are described (Isaiah 42).

Jesus’ parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, details what some scholars believe to be the ‘typical’, unconcerned, linen-clad rich man, oblivious to the plight of poor, hungry and sick Lazarus.

Levitical law prohibited the weaving of linen fibers with wool- at least for the average people (Deuteronomy Chapter 22); only the High Priest had garments of linen and wool. Biblical scholars speculate that the reason God prohibited the mixing of the fibers, is that linen represents the plant kingdom, and wool represents the animal kingdom, with ritual sacrifice. It is thought that God looked upon linen as untainted by blood; no one has to slay an animal to get linen fibers.

There were two types of linen garments: the rough, unprocessed linen garments of the poor, and what the Bible describes as “fine” or “pure” linen of excellent quality, which only the rich could afford. Isn’t it interesting that the martyrs of Revelation are wearing “fine” and “pure” linen; even though it can be assumed that the martyrs were relatively poor at the time of their deaths!