Neatly Folded

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.
John 20:6-7

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!"

HT:
David Goochee, Church in the Wild (35:25)
Jesus' Handkerchief