Houston
Congregational Christian Church
Pastor James Manuel
4883 Russia-Houston Road
Houston, OH 45333
Phone: 937-295-3591
Email:
click here
Date: March 22, 2009
Title: The Napkin is Still Folded
Call to Worship: Isaiah 1:18
Prayer:
Scripture Reading: John 20:1-7
In Biblical days when someone died it was the duty of a family member to close the eyes and kiss the cheek of the dead. When Jesus died this became the duty of two men---Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. They then took the body of Jesus to a new tomb Joseph had prepared for himself. They washed Jesus’ body and wrapped it in white linen. They closed His eyes, kissed His cheek, and placed a napkin over His face.
They then walked away from the tomb thinking---‘It’s over, it’s over the end of our dream and it lasted only 3 years.’ And may I say the next 3 days seemed like an eternity. For 3 days all the demons of hell rejoiced. Satan and the forces of darkness thought they had won a great victory. For 3 days the Jewish leaders as well as the Roman government congratulated themselves on their brilliant scheme. Then on the 3rd day something wonderful and miraculous happened. God said to an angel in heaven---Go and get Him. And when the angel’s feet hit the ground the stone rolled away. Matt. 28:2, ‘There was a sudden earthquake for an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven and going to the tomb rolled back the stone and sat on it.’ And up from the grave He arose-----He Lives.
The Bible tells us that May came to the empty tomb first. She sees the stone rolled away and it frightens her. And so she runs to get Peter and John. They come to the tomb and John gets there first and he looks in and sees the grave cloth lying in disarray. Then Peter goes right in. He too sees the cloth lying there but something unusual was in that scene. Something caught his eye that was very interesting.
John tells us that the Napkin, which was placed over Jesus’ face was not just thrown aside, like the grave cloth. But that the Napkin was neatly folded and placed at the head of the coffin. John 20:6-7, ‘Then Peter who was behind him arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separated from the linen.’ In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin you have to know about Hebrew custom. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and servant. When the servant set the dinner table for the master he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. Then the servant waited until the master had finished eating.
Now if the master was finished eating he’d get up from the table wipe his fingers and mouth and wad up the napkin and toss it onto the table. The wadded napkin meant---I’m done. But if the master got up from the table and folded his napkin and laid it by his plate the servant knew that the folded napkin meant---I’m not finished yet. I’m coming back.’
Peter and John had walked with Jesus for 3 years. They’d watched as He opened blind eyes and deaf ears. They watched as He raised people from the dead. Then they watched Him die and as they watched all their hopes and dreams were shattered. All they could think of was---It’s over, It’s over. And for 3 long days they were in the depth of despair, the lights of their soul had gone dim. Peter even said in John 21:3, ‘I’m going fishing.’ Back to what I used to do.
Then after 3 days they saw an empty tomb. Not only did they see an empty tomb they saw a folded napkin in that empty tomb. And when they saw that folded napkin perhaps God spoke to them and said---Hey boys He’s not finished yet, He’s coming back. And we can thank God for that. He’s not finished yet. The tomb is empty, our Savior is alive and He’s coming back
Today my friends Jesus is not finished saving souls. The folded napkin says that He’s not finished saving souls yet. The Bible says that Jesus came into this world for one reason---to save sinners. John 3:17 says, ‘For God did not sent His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.’ And then in Luke 19:10 Jesus tells us that, ‘The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’
He’s not finished yet. 1 Tim. 1:15 also tells us that, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ My friends Jesus is not finished yet. The napkin is still folded.
And for that reason there are two kinds of people here today. In the eyes of God there are two kinds of people here today. Those who have been saved, and those who need to be saved. Many people have the mistaken idea that good people are saved and only bad people need to be saved. Bad people do need to be saved and so do good people. Let me say there is no one, no where that’s so bad they can’t be saved. And no one is so good they don’t need to be saved. Romans 3:23 tells us, ‘For All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’
In God’s eyes there are no big sinners or little sinners---just sinners. In God’s eyes there’s no differences. In God’s eyes I’m as guilty of breaking God Holy standard as is Osama Bin Ladin. In God’s eyes there are sinners who have been forgiven like you and me. And there are sinners who have not been but certainly can be. God loves and forgives all sinners, no matter what they’ve done, just as He loves and forgives you and me.
Years ago the famous preacher, Billy Sunday was preparing to go into a city to do a crusade. He wrote ahead to the mayor and said-----Would you please send me the names of people in your area who need serious spiritual help. To his surprise the mayor sent him the telephone book. That mayor knew something, he knew that we all need spiritual help.
The Napkin is still folded. Jesus is not finished reclaiming souls. He’s still saving souls. A little boy had done something very bad. His mother punished him and he was afraid his mother was still angry at him. In their kitchen was a chalkboard where they wrote messages. When no one was around the little boy wrote on the board---Dear Mom, if you forgive me please wipe this out. He went to his room and later returned to the kitchen. To his surprise and joy the chalkboard had been completely erased. Jesus wipes our board clean all the time. Isaiah 1:18 tells us, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be as red as crimson they shall be like wool.’ Jesus will forgive and remove our most horrible sin.
Are you away from God right now? Bring your sins to the cross and Jesus will complete wipe them clean. If you’re here today and you need to be saved May I remind you that there is coming a day when another supper will take place. It’s called the marriage supper of the Lamb as Rev. 19:9 says, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’ This supper will be the most glorious, blessed celebration in history. Because all the Heavenly host will be there, all believers will be there and both God and Jesus will be there.
Now listen at the end of this Supper, at the end of this meal Jesus will stand up at the head of the table and He will wipe His fingers and mouth clean. And then He’s gonna take His napkin and wad it up and cast it aside. And when that happens my friends, It’s over, It’s all over. The last soul that’s gonna be saved has been saved. The last backslider that’s gonna come home has.
Jesus is calling, He’s calling you today, He’s pleading with us not to wait till it’s too late. For right now the Napkin is still folded. Like the prodigal son who came home and his father welcomed him home with open arms. Luke 15:20, ‘But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him he ran to his son threw his arms around him and kissed him.’ Today Jesus is calling you home, won’t you accept His call-----While the Napkin is Still Folded.