Why did Jesus fold the face cloth?

[Carbon]

John 20:
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.


Is there a reason why Jesus folded the face cloth?

 

[Fred]

John 20:
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.


Is there a reason why Jesus folded the face cloth?

Perhaps to show that He really died rise from the dead.
If His body was stolen, the person(s) doing so would have simply thrown it off him in haste. Or, if the body was stolen there might be some monetary value for it by the graverobber(s) that did so. They would have taken it.

It's as if a person was sleeping, calmly woke up, arranged his/her clothes and went on their way without a care for doing so quickly or in order to deceive.

 

[Carbon]

Perhaps to show that He really died rise from the dead.
If His body was stolen, the person(s) doing so would have simply thrown it off him in haste. Or, if the body was stolen there might be some monetary value for it by the graverobber(s) that did so.

It's as if a person was sleeping, woke up, arranged his/her clothes and went on their way without a care for doing so quickly or in order to deceive.

Fred, I think that's a great answer!

Kinda like a way of saying, and sealing that it is done.

 

[CrowCross]

Gills commentary has this to say:

And the napkin that was about his head,.... The word rendered "napkin", is thought to be originally Latin, and signifies an handkerchief, with which the sweat is wiped off the face, and so it is used in Acts 19:12 but Nonnus says it is a common word with the Syrians, and the word is used in the Syriac version; and which he renders, , "the girdle, or binding of the head", for with this the head and face of the dead person were bound; see John 11:44. Now Peter, by going into the sepulchre, and looking about him, and examining things more strictly and narrowly, observed that which neither he nor John had taken notice of, when only stooping they looked in: and that is, that this head binder, or napkin, was
not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself: and was plainly the effect of thought, care, and composure; and clearly showed, that the body was not taken away in a hurry, or by thieves, since everything lay in such order and decency; and which was done, either by our Lord himself, or by the angels.

 

[Carbon]

Gills commentary has this to say:

And the napkin that was about his head,.... The word rendered "napkin", is thought to be originally Latin, and signifies an handkerchief, with which the sweat is wiped off the face, and so it is used in Acts 19:12 but Nonnus says it is a common word with the Syrians, and the word is used in the Syriac version; and which he renders, , "the girdle, or binding of the head", for with this the head and face of the dead person were bound; see John 11:44. Now Peter, by going into the sepulchre, and looking about him, and examining things more strictly and narrowly, observed that which neither he nor John had taken notice of, when only stooping they looked in: and that is, that this head binder, or napkin, was
not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself: and was plainly the effect of thought, care, and composure; and clearly showed, that the body was not taken away in a hurry, or by thieves, since everything lay in such order and decency; and which was done, either by our Lord himself, or by the angels.

Nice.

But I like Fred's explaination better.

 

[Fred]

Kinda like a way of saying, and sealing that it is done.

Amen.


Also, kind of like this:
You mocked Me.
You challenged Me.
You rejected Me.
You lied about Me.
You vilified Me.
You spit on Me.
You struck Me.
You whipped Me.
You plucked the hairs of My beard.
You nailed Me to a cross.
You stuck a spear in My body.


But you can never defeat Me.
I arose in absolute power and majestic glory.
I am so merciful that I am able to forgive every evil thought and act that you ever committed against Me.
I live and reign forever.

 

[Carbon]

Amen.


Also, kind of like this:
You mocked Me.
You challenged Me.
You rejected Me.
You lied about Me.
You vilified Me.
You spit on Me.
You struck Me.
You whipped Me.
You plucked the hairs of My beard.
You nailed Me to a cross.
You stuck a spear in My body.


But you can never defeat Me.
I arose in absolute power and majestic glory.
I am so merciful that I will forgive every evil thought and act that you ever committed against Me.
I live and reign forever.

Amen to that!

 

[Arial]

When I read the OP I was going to think about it and see what I came up with. But first I read what had been posted. Would I have ever discerned what was given? Who knows? But it saved me the trouble for I don't think there is a more reasonable and plausible explanation that what was presented by @Fred and @CrowCross.

 

[Rockerduck]

I'll explain it to you.
When you go out to eat, you use a napkin in your lap. Now you have to go to the bathroom. Where did you put your napkin? in another place on the table, why? because if you put the napkin on your plate, that signals the waiter that you are done. Get this; when the napkin is in another place on the table, it means you will be back. That's what Jesus did. He put the napkin in another place to let you know He's coming back.

 

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

Is there a reason why Jesus folded the face cloth?

Cuz His mama brought Him up right.

 

[jeremiah1five]

When the master of the house was finished eating he'd crumple the napkin as a sign to the servants he was finished and to clear the table.
Folding the napkin was a sign to the servants the master was coming back.

 

[Odë:hgöd]

.

Is there a reason why Jesus folded the face cloth?

Jesus' crucified dead body was cocooned in bandages, like a mummy, and wrapped
in a linen shroud like a burrito. I'd imagine he needed help getting that stuff off him
so his hands could be freed enough to remove the towel himself. Compare John
11:44 where his friend Lazarus needed assistance.

* Jesus was assisted by an angel just prior to his capture and subsequent
execution. That very same angel may have been the one to help him out of the
wrappings; which were no doubt pretty slimy having been treated with a hefty
amount of paste made with a blend of myrrh and aloes.
_

 

[Hobie]

When the master of the house was finished eating he'd crumple the napkin as a sign to the servants he was finished and to clear the table.
Folding the napkin was a sign to the servants the master was coming back.

Yes, Jewish tradition and it was clear to His followers back then, but we have lost some of that, here is a bit more..
"In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, we need 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.

The servant would not dare touch the table until the master was finished. Now if the master was finished eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth, clean his beard, and wad up the 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 finished.”

But if the master got up from the table, 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!”

 

[Odë:hgöd]

.
The Greek word pertaining to the cloth over Jesus' face basically means a small towel for
mopping sweat, i.e. a bandana and/or a hanky. (e.g. Acts 19:12)
_

 

[Rockerduck]

.


Jesus' crucified dead body was cocooned in bandages, like a mummy, and wrapped
in a linen shroud like a burrito. I'd imagine he needed help getting that stuff off him
so his hands could be freed enough to remove the towel himself. Compare John
11:44 where his friend Lazarus needed assistance.

* Jesus was assisted by an angel just prior to his capture and subsequent
execution. That very same angel may have been the one to help him out of the
wrappings; which were no doubt pretty slimy having been treated with a hefty
amount of paste made with a blend of myrrh and aloes.
_

I agree with the wrapped like a mummy and the aloe and myrrh were like glue to the body. But the rest you said is not in the Bible. Jesus's resurrected body had no boundaries. He appeared to His disciples behind locked doors twice. You are talking man's assumptions. Jesus could "rise" without any assistance. Like the angel said," He is Risen'" . John 20:5 - And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
You see the linen clothes were not everywhere, as someone who needed assistance, Jesus rose out of the linen.

 

[Odë:hgöd]

.
Any chance Jesus used it to blow his nose?

Well; I ask because the very same Greek word is translated handkerchiefs in Acts 19:12.
_