Why did Jesus fold the napkin that covered his head after the resurrection?

Had Jesus' body been stolen, as was reported by the Jews, the napkin would have been left askew in the tomb. But all the grave clothes were there, and the napkin was folded to show that raising from the dead he was not rushed to leave the tomb.

God is not the author of confusion; He is a God of order.

Jesus Folded Napkin

I don't know for sure but here's what I've heard:

"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 w/ 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 then 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 had finished 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 servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

John 20:7 (New King James Version)..... and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself."

But apparently it's been debunked?

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/folded-napk...

I was told in church once that there is a Jewish custom of folding the napkin after a meal to indicate that you would be back- I thought this referred to the second coming..

I was recenlty listening to another pastor and he told us a completely contradictory explanation, saying that the Jewish custom was to fold the napkin if you felt the experience was bad and you would not be returning- I have not figured out how hat would make sense in the grand scheme of things.

I have not een able to pin anyone down to get a solid answer and understanding about the actual custom and what it means. It would be interesting to hear from a Jewish person who knows and understands this custom

Good question, did an angel fold it?

Does this tell us that Jesus kept a tidy bedroom?

This was his habit.

It was Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb, he was a friend of the cause. Maybe if the disciples stole the body of Jesus, they wanted to leave things clean for Joseph’s sake.

Oops, was that blasphamy? Here come the thumbs downs.

I like Morgaine's answer, but had never heard it... Here's my take, not quite as interesting...

The Bible never says why, so any answer will be speculation. I believe it was to prove that His body wasn't stolen, as some of the Romans believed. Would someone who is stealing a body take the time to fold up a burial cloth? I don't think so.

I'm not sure about that but what i can tell you is after the resurrection before he ascended he folded his cloak neatly on the side and in them days it was a sign that if you did that it was because it was a sign that you would be returning! a custom in them days!

...could it be another way to show others that it was not grave robbers that stole His body ('cuse they may not have taken the time to be so meticulous), but that it was Him who came back to life and simply walked out of the tomb under his own power...

Jesus doesn't wan't people to think he's a slob.

thats how his momma raised him.