Easter: The Folded Napkin

He is Risen

(Audience) He is Risen Indeed!

Have you ever noticed how a simple story can change everything?

Isn't it amazing how a simple story can change everything? Stories capture our hearts and make us feel something deeper than when we expected.

So today I want to take you back to a story and a moment that is so miraculous that it echoes through the ages. It's a story of fear turned to joy despair turned to hope and death turned to life it's the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And stories and moments change people's lives don't they? The stories that you've lived through state how you see the world. The sicknesses you've experienced transform how you see other things. Those of you who have fought in wars your story has changed the rest of your l That's what were here for period to experience the transformation that comes from experiencing a life changing story.

And in this case we're not just going to here we are going to see it through peter's eyes. Peter is the disciple who walked on water and then he sank. He's the one who promised he would never deny Jesus and then he did three times period he's the one that ran to the tomb breathless and desperate hoping beyond hope that what he'd heard was true and when he got there he found something strange something small but something significant. He found a folded napkin

So let's dive into this incredible moment and let's discover the life changing truths about the folded napkin the empty tomb and the risen savior.

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You this morning with hearts full of gratitude and awe. Thank You for gathering us together as Your people to worship You, to hear Your Word, and to be reminded of the greatest truth the world has ever known: that

Jesus Christ is alive.

Lord, as we open Your Word today, we ask Your Spirit to move among us. Open our eyes to see the wonder of the resurrection. Open our hearts to the joy and hope that only You can give. And open our minds to understand the depth of Your love, displayed in the empty tomb and the risen Savior.

Prepare us, Lord, to hear Your truth and to respond with faith. May this time together draw us closer to You and remind us that because Jesus lives, we can live with confidence, purpose, and joy.We invite Your presence here, Lord. Speak to us, transform us, and use us to share this good news with the world. We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus, our risen Savior. Amen.

The Folded Napkin—A Promise that Jesus will Return

John 20:6–7 ESV

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.

in the video Peter tells us about the folded napkin and you might think that this is a small detail but it carries an immense significance. And the reason for this is in the Jewish culture when a master finished a meal he would either wade up his napkin and toss it aside signaling that he was done or he would fold it neatly showing that he wasn't finished he was coming back. When Peter enters the tomb he sees the grave those lying there but the headpiece is neatly folded. This isn't the work of a grade robber or someone making their escape it's a message from Jesus saying I'm not done I'm coming back.

Imagine you're at a restaurant and your friend gets up from the table and he folds their napkin and says I'll be right back. You don't panic or worry, you assume they're going to be back in just a minute. You don't assume they're leaving the restaurant unless maybe it's a first date and you're not sure how it's going. :) you wait because the folded napkin is kind of a promise. It's a sign. In the same way Jesus folded napkin is a promise to us. He says I'm coming back.

We need to realize that the resurrection isn't just a one time event. It's the beginning of a story that is still being written. Jesus is alive and he's coming back for us. And if he's coming back that means this world is not our home. It means our trials our sorrows our suffering won't last forever. The folded napkin is a whisper of hope in a Catholic world it's Jesus saying hold on I'm coming for you.

We live in a truly chaotic world. We live in a time when international relationships are being reshuffled period. And violent rhetoric continues as people debate back and forth as to what the best course forward is.

What we celebrate today on resurrection Sunday is the promise that Jesus will return. The promise that he is working in our lives writing a story bringing redemption bringing hope in our lives and through our lives.

The Empty Tomb—A Proof of Jesus’ Power

Matthew 28:5–6 ESV

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

 I love how Peter in the video describes the tomb as not just empty of a body but empty of the power of death. The grave clothes were there but Jesus wasn't. Grave clothes are for dead people and Jesus isn't dead. The empty tomb is proof that death could not hold Jesus the stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out but to let us in to see the evidence of the victory that Jesus won.

 In his resurrection Jesus showed that he holds power over the greatest force that we fear. It's often said the only thing certain in life is death and taxes. Jesus has power over both.

Imagine you're in a courtroom on trial and the evidence is stacked against you. You know you're guilty but a defense attorney with one piece of undeniable evidence that changes everything walks into the room. The case is dismissed.

The empty tomb is our evidence. It's our proof that Jesus was who he said he is. It's the divine not guilty verdict stamped over our lives.

Everyone of Jesus followers were willing to spend the rest of their lives sharing about Jesus resurrection. Every one of Jesus followers were willing to give their lives as a witness to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus.

Death thought it had the final word with Jesus but God had the final laugh. The empty tomb is this assurance that God gives to us that every promise that Jesus made is true. If Jesus can conquer death he can handle whatever we're facing today. If Jesus can conquer death then we need to give a second a third a fourth a thousandth look at his teachings. If Jesus can conquer death then it's worth us spending the entire year every year studying his words and learning to follow him. If Jesus can conquer death then the empty tomb is proof that his power is greater than our problems.

His power is greater than our health problems. His power is greater than our financial problems. His power is greater than our people problems. His power is greater than our political problems. His power is greater.

The Risen Savior—A Person of Joy

Luke 24:5–6 ESV

5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,I love how peter's joy is so contagious in the video. He can't contain it he's alive! He is alive! This isn't just a historical fact it's a personal reality. Jesus isn't a distant figure he is the living breathing son of God back from the dead. He's the savior who walks with us each and every day. The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus it is a reality that affects our lives each and every day. It's something that gives us reason for joy even in the darker circumstances. Because he lives our faith replaces fear. Our joy replaces sadness. Our hope replaces despair.

Imagine you're in a dark room feeling lost and afraid and suddenly someone flips on a light switch and everything changes. That's what the resurrection does for us it flips the switch on our darkness it fills our lives with the light of his presence.

Joy isn't the absence of suffering it's the presence of Jesus. The risen savior is the source of our joy the anchor of our hope and the reason we can confidently say he is risen indeed.

The risen Savior is the source of our joy, the anchor of our hope, and the reason we can confidently say: “He is risen indeed!”

Conclusion

Cornerstone family… Church the folded napkin the empty tomb and the risen savior are more than just parts of a story they are the foundation of our faith. The folded napkin reminds us that Jesus has promised he is returning he is coming back. The empty tomb proves his power is greater than anything we face. And the risen savior fills our life with hope and joy.

Later on Peter would write this in one of the letters to the churches:

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We are the people who have hope! Not hope in an empty world, not hope in fleeting wealth or disappearing pleasures. We have hope that can only come from an empty grave.

So the question is. Do you believe it? Do you believe Jesus is alive? If you do, let’s live like it. Let’s share joy with the world. Let’s talk to people about Jesus.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the folded napkin, the empty tomb, and the risen Savior. Thank You that Jesus is alive and that His resurrection changes everything. Fill us with Your joy and hope today. Help us to live as people who believe in the power of the resurrection. And may we share this good news with everyone we meet. In Jesus’ name, amen.