Why did Jesus Fold the Linen?

This was in an email circulation, but truly not one I had seen before. I'm literally copying and pasting it into this blog. I take no credit on the publication and don't know the author. But I find it interesting...

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin,
> which was placed over the face of Jesus,
> was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.
>
>
>
> The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly
> folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.
> Early 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 I
> don't know where they have put him!'
>
>
>
> Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple
> outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the
> linen
> cloth 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 to the side.
>
> Was that important?
> Absolutely!
>
> Is it really significant?
> Yes!
>
>
>
> 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!'
>
He is Coming Back!

Back to Plan A

So, I haven't been online in ages, My computer crashed at an inopportune time (spelled B-R-O-K-E). No computer, no job, and no car left lots of time for "soul searching".

I have spent much of my time asking God the age old question "What am I suppose to be doing with my life?" I got an answer, but it was in the faint distance. I couldn't quite make out the words. So each day, I asked again begging, "Lord show me some sort of sign, please!" I read,I prayed, I consoled. I think I have done more research in a month than most people do in a lifetime. Everyday I could hear God's message, but couldn't make out the words. Then one day He screamed it at me....

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD BE DOING. FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED FIRST. I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT TO DO WITH LIFE; YOU JUST HAVEN'T EXECUTED THE MISSION!"

OH SMOKES!! Did God just tell me I was a failure? This merciful God that created us out of love? Where's his compassion now? All of these thoughts raced through my mind that morning. All day I was bitter about his accusations. Yet, in my head, I knew he spoke the truth.

The next day I sat down and had a heart-to-heart; not with God, but with myself. God has been very patient with me and VERY forgiving. (I am the rebellious wild child) I have long known that God put me on this Earth to help teens have a positive outlook on life. When in college I developed an organization that would implement that purpose and possibly turn thousand of lives around. However, life occurred and I hit a rock in my path. Yet, in lieu of trusting God to move that rock out of my way...I went to Plan B. And that's where everything started progressing down hill.

See, God developed us for a purpose. Once that purpose is accomplished we are disposed of and replaced by a newer model. Harsh, but reality. (AKA, when one person dies, another is born.) That purpose he developed us for never changes. God doesn't have a Plan B,C, or in my case Z. What he has is a bunch of humans diverting from Plan A.

I have realized what I need to be doing. I am now gearing up to make those positive changes and get back on Plan A- God's Path!

Reflect on your life, what diversions have you made? What mission has God sent you to accomplish? Revisit it and figure out a way to "get-r-done".

There will be more on this topic in the near future. I have derived a daily devotional geared toward getting myself back on course with God. Join in and I am sure you will be joyful in your success!