the napkin of Jesus

NAPKIN OF JESUS!

- John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
- John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. (KJV)
- John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
- John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
- John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
- John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
- John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
- John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

In this sermon outline we list some interesting things about a lowly napkin that must be important as the Bible makes mention of it at the Last Supper and at the Tomb after Jesus rose from the dead. I like to think that Jesus had a very special way of folding His napkin.

I. The first thing Peter saw of the napkin was that it was FOLDED!
A. It was the custom in Bible days that when the master of the house rose and threw his napkin aside it meant he was finished and would not return to the table. However, if he folded it, it meant to his servants do not touch, as he would return.
B. Peter saw the napkin He knew He would be returning.
C. The folded napkin shows His Presence.
D. He would be returning on time.
- Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (KJV)

II. In the folding of the napkin there is ORDER.
A. There was order and purpose in the life of Jesus.
- I John 3:8, John 10:10, John 3:16 for this purpose he come into the world.
B. Without God's order there is darkness.
- Job 10:22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. (KJV)
1. When Satan was cast out of heaven look what he did in Genesis to the earth.
C. Our prayer and petitions are to have order. The Lord's Prayer is a good example.
- Job 23:4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
D. When we begin to put in order our blessings then we see how many they are.
- Ps 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (KJV)
E. God's Word gives us order in our lives.
- Ps 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. (KJV)
F. Nothing is strange about God's plan or order even for worship.
- 1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
G. Order in His Word keeps us in the faith walk.
- Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

III. A folded napkin seems like a small thing.
- Zech 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. (KJV)
A. Our hair is numbered, the falling bird, He cares about the little things of our life.

IV. The napkin was BLOODY- DIRTY
A. God changes things in our lives.
- 2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
- John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (KJV)
- Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (KJV)
- 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (KJV)
B. We have seen him change so many lives yet there is room at the cross for more.

V. PETER SHOUTS, "He is risen."
He sees the napkin folded in the unique way that Jesus folded His napkin. Then John goes in and sees for himself. He is alive and is going to return.
A. Lets read it again!
- John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
- John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
- John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
- John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
- John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
God bless you and yours!
On behalf of this generation,
Your friends in the service of Christ,
Tony and Marge Abram
Abundant Life Crusades

If we could be of more help or if you want more information please visit:
www.tonyabram.com or www.abundantlifecrusades.com