It’s Not Over!

Throughout December we often see or hear and sometimes say, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” Each year I hang a small plaque on my front door reminding all who read it the true meaning of Christmas. Nativity scenes, the Star of Bethlehem, shepherds and wisemen are front and centre on Christmas cards and in church concerts. We may even hear Christmas carols played on the radio and, if we are fortunate, even see a Christmas-related story on TV. And rightly so!

Without the birth of Jesus Christ, there would be no reason to celebrate in December, beyond the need to have a holiday, gather with family and friends and exchange gifts.

But the Son of God was born, and not only is Jesus the reason for the Christmas season, “Jesus is the Reason for THIS Season.” For without one, there is no possibility of the other. The two seasons are not only delicately entwined, they are God ordained.

Whenever I read something that resonates with me—in a book, on the internet or, as it turned out recently, on Facebook—I’m careful to give full credit to the source. Unfortunately, I am unable to do that this time. However, I believe wholeheartedly that the author of the following would be thrilled to know that what was written is being shared.

I’ll begin with John 20: 1-7 NLT:

Early on 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 we don’t know where they have put him!”

Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.

So often we read this part of Scripture and focus on the empty tomb…what else is there to focus on! But the more I study God’s word, the more I’m discovering that every page, every line, every word is critical because it is God-inspired. It is so easy to miss a small detail, a small word like folded, and then you read the following and you are awed at God’s word once again.

The question asked by the author: “Was it important to find the cloth folded that covered the head of Jesus?” Absolutely!

“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 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 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 meant, ‘I’m coming back!'”

“Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.”

HE’S COMING BACK!!!!

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

1 Corinthians 15:3-4