A Folded Napkin and a Broken Promise:
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John 20:3-10
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.
4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,
7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
There was a tradition that every Jewish boy knew of having to do with a folded napkin a 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. 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 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!”
After witnessesing the The time in between the This is after a very intense and emotional time for Jesus and his disciples. This also includes Mary and Martha. I could only imagine the grief that they experienced. For anyone who has lost someone close to them it isn’t a stretch to say that death of a loved one is of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. It's a complex process filled with many emotions.
I am sure they felt a suffocating emptiness, a hollowness that echoed in their very souls – that's what must have clung to the disciples after Jesus' death. Can you imagine Peter, the rock, the one who declared his unwavering faith (Matthew 16:16), his spirit now as heavy as the nets he once cast aside (Matthew 4:10)? James and John, the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17), their voices choked with a grief that drowned out the very message they carried – the message of hope, of God's boundless love (John 3:16). "For God so loved the world..." the words must have tasted like ash in their mouths. The fire Jesus ignited in their hearts, the purpose that propelled them to leave everything behind – extinguished. It was a punch to the gut, a betrayal that stole their breath. No wonder there was no motivation, no spark. Their world had been shattered, and the weight of their loss threatened to bury them, and now a huge boulder has been rolled in front of their hearts.
Jesus I know you said in (John 10:18), “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” I know but..., You were arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane you looked like you went away willing, but would a great
The anger and frustration that they felt towards Jesus, never thinking that something like this would happen. It was like Jesus broke a promise. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) This can’t be what overcoming the world looks like. With each brutal blow from the Roman soldiers was building the compilation to a beatdown that would be remembered forever. Crimson welts blossomed across Jesus' back, the sound of tearing flesh a sickening counterpoint to the jeering crowd. His breaths grew ragged as he strained under the weight of the cross, the rough wood digging into already-exposed bone. The ascent of Golgotha became an agonizing pilgrimage, each step a searing reminder of the sacrifice to come.
Then came the final act of brutality. Nails, thick as fingers, pierced his wrists, the sickening crunch of bone echoing in the deadened silence. Agony lanced through him as they hoisted him onto the rough-hewn timber, his feet pinned in the same brutal fashion. Blood, a crimson cascade, flowed freely, mingling with the dust. Gasping for air, lungs constricted by the unnatural position, Jesus fought for each shallow breath, the world blurring at the edges with encroaching darkness.
There was no way that this measured up to the conquering Messiah that has come to free God’s people from the Roman oppression and bring about God’s rule on earth. Did they follow a fraud? Someone who fed them a story about being the Son of God, and promising them that he would go and prepare a place for them. Where he would go, they would be also. They gave up their lives, careers and families to follow Jesus. Jesus acted as an emotional bully by guilt-tripping them, and playing on their insecurities, making them to feel they have to do something to be worthy. What did he say, (John 14:6), “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He said, (Luke 14:26) If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. In (Luke 5:8), we find Peter, a fisherman struggling with self-doubt, encountering Jesus. Jesus' request left Peter feeling pressured to follow him, even though Jesus filled the nets with an unusual amount of fish – something a clever trickster could've pulled off. Peter, already questioning his abilities, abandoned his livelihood to follow this enigmatic figure with unknown intentions.
Fast-forward to where we are in the scripture the disciples after Jesus’ death are filled with so much confusion questioning their judgement and the character of Jesus. This type of disappoint can be earth shattering. When someone promises you the world but can’t deliver.
Anna Sorokin wasn't born with a silver spoon, but she craved the taste of high society. She meticulously crafted a persona online and in person, portraying herself as "Anna Delvey," a German heiress with a trust fund. Awash in designer clothing and promises of lavish vacations, she showered potential friends and business associates with expensive gifts and experiences - all on someone else's dime.
Anna wasn't just throwing money around. She carefully cultivated emotional connections. She possessed a genuine charisma and an uncanny ability to weave elaborate tales about her jet-setting lifestyle. People were drawn to her confidence and the allure of being part of her exclusive circle. Blinded by the promise of luxury and seduced by the feeling of being special, they fell victim to her manipulation.
As Anna's web of connections grew, so did her perceived social status. She attended exclusive events, befriended wealthy individuals, and documented it all on social media. The more she embedded herself in this world, the more believable her facade became. Banks, seeing her surrounded by supposed affluence, approved her for hefty loans. Hotels, eager to cater to high-profile guests, overlooked unpaid bills. Everyone assumed her extravagant lifestyle was just the tip of the iceberg.
Of course, the truth eventually catches up. When the lavish charade became unsustainable, Anna's web of lies unraveled. Banks demanded repayment of loans, and unpaid bills from hotels came due. The facade shattered, revealing the audacious con underneath. Anna Delvey, the social media darling, was exposed as Anna Sorokin, a cunning manipulator who had exploited emotional connection and fabricated social status for personal gain.
Some of us have been lured by temptation into the trap of trusting appearances. We all have this vulnerability for flattery and the allure of wealth, opportunity, connection and these emotions can be manipulated for personal gain.
We have all been there where someone has promised us
Someone who promised to advance your career or your pupose
No they felt so much confusion and were questioning their judgement or the character of Jesus.
You might wonder if you were wrong to admire them
Did you miss red flags?
Were you naive?
People are complex, and sometimes their true colors don't show until faced with certain situations.
When someone fails us it causes us to actions and motivations.
It causes you to reassess your view of them
If their actions expose a fundamental difference in values, you might become disillusioned.
You re-evaluate your relationship with this person.
We hold tight to our offense, our bitterness, our need for revenge, our anger, our self-pity, our pride and it is the barrier, the anchor that act as a barrier between us and the gift of salvation.
the most common feeling. You might feel a deep ache in your chest, or a hollowness where your loved one used to be in your life.
Shock and Denial: Especially right after the loss, you might feel numb or disconnected from reality. It can be hard to believe they're gone.
Anger and Frustration: You might feel angry at the person who died, at yourself, or at the world in general. It's normal to feel frustrated by this situation.
Loneliness and Isolation: You might feel a deep sense of loneliness, even when you're surrounded by people.
Waves of Grief: Grief often comes in waves. You might feel okay one minute, and then be hit with a wave of sadness the next. This is completely normal.