What is the significance of the "folded napkin" in Christ's tomb after the resurrection?

361 John 20:7. — The word ἐντετυλιγμένον speaks volumes. It means "folded inwards" — i.e., turban-shaped (Govett), or twirled (Latham). What was it that entranced him? The remarkable appearance that the vesture presented in the position of the various parts towards each other. The Lord had detached Himself from the napkin and the shroud without dishevelling them, to say nothing of handling them. A miracle alone could explain the phenomenon. The common notion (as of Dr. Torrey, "Talks with Men") that He had just calmly folded up the napkin afresh in a different place, so as to indicate that there had been no haste, no removal of the body by friend or foe, is feeble in comparison with the full reality. "A place apart" refers to the different position consistent with the unity, which had not been disturbed. Cf. Carr: "The napkin perhaps rested on a stone which had served as a pillow." So apparently, Bishop Gore understands it ("New Theology," 3, p. 123), as does Prof. Swete. Further reference may be made to Govett or Latham ("The Risen Master," p. 43, ff., ed. of 1901).

There is a beautiful incident in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus which somewhat illustrates this. It is recorded that Peter saw the linen clothes lying, and that the napkin or handkerchief was not lying with the rest of the clothes, but was folded together in a place by itself. This incident has been but poorly appreciated. The ordinary significance attached to this is that it indicates the calmness and orderliness of the resurrection. But surely there must be some other explanation than this. It scarcely seems a worthy supposition that the Lord or some attendant angel carefully folded the napkin and laid it apart. The thought when weighed savours of irreverence, however little intended; indeed it borders on the grotesque! But the real point of the incident is its unusualness. Ordinarily, when a person disrobes he puts his clothes together. Here it is the contrary. They are left in situ as they were. Naturally, the napkin would have been unwound and placed with the other garments, but here it is found as it had been, wrapped together, doubtless in the place where His sacred head had been; and the other linen clothes "lying," not folded for neatness as the other interpretation would require. The received explanation deprives the account of the element of wonderment and holy mystery which obviously attaches to it. Why does the Holy Spirit make so much of these otherwise trivial facts?

John "stooping down, saw the linen clothes lying… Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and … seeth the linen clothes lying, and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place ["a distinct place," J.N.D. ] by itself" (John 20:5-7). That indeed was a wonder. There were the linen clothes lying in position, but Jesus was gone! The napkin was not unfolded, yet the head that it had enclosed was not there. Even so; just as Jesus in His spiritual body entered the room where the disciples were gathered, though the doors were fast shut, so at His resurrection He needed not to remove the clothes, to unfold the head-band or disturb the shroud — He calmly rose, leaving them as they were. There were the linen clothes lying! This was what awed and startled John, but did not impede Peter. And so, fellow-believer, will it be with thee, if thou art alive at the Lord's coming. Sweetly and beautifully thy body in a moment will be changed, and taken to the clouds, while possibly the suits which clothed the once mortal man will be left as an enigma to the world.

Peter and John go out, and find that every word is true that Mary had told them. They come to the sepulchre, and, looking in, see "the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself" There is the absence of all evidence of disorder, untimely haste, or hurry. Matthew tells us of an earthquake, as the angel rolled away the stone. Do you suppose that act was to let the Saviour out? God forbid, a thousand times, the thought that the stone should be rolled away to let Jesus out. Oh no! What was it rolled away for then? To let you and me look in. He had risen, in calm majesty, long ere that stone was rolled away. They had to gaze into an empty tomb, where the Saviour had lain, and we see what perfect order there was. It was as if He had taken a night's repose, had risen early in the morning, and had left everything perfectly orderly behind Him, in that vacant tomb. "And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself." Yes! He rose from the dead, a triumphant, victorious Saviour, and He left behind Him the tacit, yet eloquent proofs, of the victory that He had won, over sin, and Satan, and death. He left those evidences behind Him for the faith, and comfort of those, who care to gaze into His grave. That some hearts did care, is very evident.

Impelled by the urgency of his own feelings, Peter enters the sepulchre, "And sees the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself" (John 20:7). There had been no tumult there. All was calm and quiet. Like one who has passed the night in peaceful slumber, risen in the morning and laid aside the clothes, here the Lord lays aside the death-clothes. What is the lesson? He has done with death. He had set aside everything that relates to death, the fruit and wages of sin. The napkin folded and laid aside tells of the reign of death being over for ever. Resurrection glory is to replace death. These details have indeed a meaning for the heart. I see He has gone into death and annulled it. He is risen now. Resurrection power and resurrection joy are to flood the scene. Everything now is in resurrection for the Christian, for being in Christ he is on the other side of death. I do not say that Peter and John learnt this wondrous lesson then. Have you and I learnt it? Ah, brethren, it is easy speaking, but the question is, where are we in the history of our souls? Are our souls really linked with Christ where He now is? What they saw was the proof of His wondrous victory.

It was not indeed all, to know a love which had brought the Lord down to death for them; there remained a capital point to be learnt. What did the sepulchre contain? What had death done with the Saviour? or else, What had the Saviour done with death? If the grave had held Him, His work was vain, and not one of those for whom He had given Himself was acquitted or justified. Mary found the sepulchre open. Peter and John ascertained that it was empty. Peter went in and saw. The attributes of death were there, testifying by their presence that death had been unable to hold its prey, and that, without struggle or conflict, the victory over it had been peaceful. The napkin was wrapped together in a place by itself, as one does with a garment when preparing to go out. The "It is finished" was proved. The love which had undertaken the work had completed it; and the disciples, who as yet knew not the Scripture, were convinced by the testimony of their eyes. They believed, and went away again unto their own home with the knowledge of a work thenceforth completed.*

What could she do in her bewilderment but run to Simon Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, her grief was too great for one heart to bear, and they on hearing her report also ran. Her words shook them out of their sullen sorrow and put a surprising energy into them. Surely the mystery was deepening, what could that empty sepulchre, so lately containing the body of Him in Whom all their hopes were centred, and so well sealed and closely guarded, mean? They satisfied themselves that it was even as Mary had reported, the tomb was empty, but to still further deepen the mystery, the linen clothes had not gone with the body. Stooping down and looking in, John, who fleeter of foot, had reached the sepulchre first, beheld and saw these clothes lying undisturbed, and Simon arriving on the heels of John and being bolder than his friend went in and confirmed what John saw. He "sees the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about the head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together by itself."

These details as to the linen clothes must not be overlooked. There is a reason for this twofold testimony as to them. Lying there in perfect order they tell us more than that there was no sign of a struggle. When Lazarus came forth from his tomb at the command of the Lord he was bound hand and foot with grave clothes, witness that he had to return to that grave again, and he needed friendly hands to loose him and let him go. But the sacred body of Jesus did not need such friendly service, it did not arise from the dead wrapt in the garments of death. He left them behind Him undisturbed by His rising. They were lying there for those disciples to see just as they were when the body of Jesus lay within them; neither they nor the stone that held the door of the tomb had impeded His triumphant rising, all that spoke of bondage and of prison had been left behind. It was the first day of the week, the resurrection day; the power of resurrection life had vanquished death. The grave was empty. The Lord was risen indeed, and all that spoke of death was left behind for ever.

So also reports Luke (Luke 24:12), though not in such detail as John does, who describes not only the twofold examination on his own part, but an added feature in Peter's intent gaze [θεωρεῖ], observing the peculiarity of the napkin wrapt up by itself. What clear presumptive proof that the body had not been taken away by enemies any more than by friends! for why should either leave the linen swathes behind? Who but one arising from sleep would dispose of the habiliments in this calm and orderly fashion? It must be His own doing as He rose from among the dead,361 and laid aside what was unsuited to, as well as needless for, His new estate.362 For here we may contrast the very different way in which Lazarus appeared when raised by the Lord, indicative of the different character of the Resurrection. Still, there was no depth in the conviction Peter could not but form; for he returned home, the true rendering, wondering at what had come to pass. Wonder is in no way the expression of the intelligence which faith gives; it implies rather the distinct lack of it. It does seem surprising that such men as Bengel and Stier should follow Erasmus and Grotius in the idea that John merely went as far as Mary's idea in verse 2.

"I lay down my life that I might take it up again." The sufferings were accomplished. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep and now we learn how He arose from the dead. Chapter 2:19 was fulfilled. "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The stone is rolled away; the sepulchre is empty. Mary of Magdala carried the good news to Peter and John. Peter and John ran together to the sepulchre, and John outran Peter. In the sepulchre all is in order. If a thief had stolen the body he would have acted in fear and haste. A thief would not have gone about in such an orderly way. The linen clothes were lying in the proper place; the napkin (soudarion--sweatcloth) was folded inwards (this is the meaning of "entetuligmenon") in a place by itself. He had detached Himself in a miraculous way without disturbing them at all. It is an evidence of His resurrection in His own power as Son of God.

We pass to the resurrection chapter for the second great sight. John is there again as an eye-witness. He and Peter had run together to see the sepulchre because of a report that the Magdalene had brought to them, and going into it they beheld the linen clothes lying and the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John saw this and has recorded what he saw; and his record gives the lie to the report that was circulated amongst the Jews that His disciples had come by night and stolen His body. If they had done that, or if anyone else had done it, would they not have taken the clothes with the body?

We pass to the resurrection chapter for the second great sight. John is there again as an eye-witness. He and Peter had run together to see the sepulchre because of a report that the Magdalene had brought to them, and going into it they beheld the linen clothes lying and the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John saw this and has recorded what he saw; and his record gives the lie to the report that was circulated amongst the Jews that His disciples had come by night and stolen His body. If they had done that, or if anyone else had done it, would they not have taken the clothes with the body?