Lucas Leibforth

There’s a small detail in the resurrection story that I’ve passed over dozens of times. Maybe you have too, but I read this a few years ago and it has stuck with me since.

It’s in John 20. Mary Magdalene shows up early at the tomb and finds the stone rolled away. She runs to tell Peter and John. They sprint to the tomb (John makes sure we all know he outran Peter…classic…I probably would do the same). And when they get there, the tomb is empty… but not completely.

Here’s the moment:

“Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.”
— John 20:6–7 (NIV)

Did you catch that?

There’s a folded cloth. Not tossed. Not crumpled. Folded.

The Folded Cloth

In Jewish culture at the time, this detail would’ve meant something. When a servant prepared a meal and the master was finished, the master would wad up his napkin and toss it on the table. That was the sign: “I’m done.”

But if the master folded his napkin and left it beside the plate, that meant: “I’m not finished. I’m coming back.”

You see it?

Jesus didn’t leave the tomb in a panic. He didn’t sneak out like a fugitive. He left with purpose. He left a folded cloth.

The burial clothes told the world that death lost. But the folded napkin? That was Jesus saying:
“I’m not done yet.”

What This Means for Us

The folded cloth in the tomb is like a whisper from God to anyone paying attention:

“I’m coming back.”

He’s not done healing.

Not done redeeming.

Not done building His Church.

Not done with you.

So in a world that sometimes feels like it’s falling apart, don’t miss the detail in the tomb. Jesus left us a reminder. Folded. Intentional. Promising.

He’s coming back.