Why did Jesus leave His handkerchief folded inside the tomb after His resurrection?

John 20:7 tells us that the handkerchief that was used to cover His head wasn’t left lying next to the linen cloths in the tomb. The Bible dedicates an entire verse explaining how the handkerchief was carefully folded and placed at the head of the stone tomb.


Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”

Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself.


Is this important? Definitely

Is it significant? Yes


To understand the significance behind the folded handkerchief, you must have a certain understanding of the Hebrew traditions of that time. The folding of the handkerchief has to do with the relationship between a master and his servant. Every Jewish boy is taught this tradition.


Whenever a servant sets the dinner table for his master, he made sure it was done exactly how his master wanted. After the table was perfectly set, the servant would step out of the room until the master had finished his meal. The servant wouldn’t dare touch the table before his master had finished eating.


Once the master had finished his meal, he would get up, wipe his hands, his mouth and his beard, roll up his handkerchief and placed it on the table. In those days, a rolled up handkerchief meant: “I’m finished.” If the master got up and left the napkin folded beside his plate, the servant knew better than to touch the table because the folded napkin meant, “I’m not finished; I’ll be back!”