Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
John 19:23-24
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,
“They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
Reading
He had been betrayed. He had been condemned. He had been beaten. And now he was to face further humiliation at the hands of the guards, who took his clothes, and left him naked on the ground. This is where we think the shame lies, in his nakedness. We can so scarcely think of anything more embarrassing than that. Some have dreams, even nightmares about being naked.
But the humiliation for Jesus occurred as they gambled for his clothes. As he was being prepared for death, the men who had led him up to his place turned their attention to the garments instead of to the man. Not only was Jesus to be crucified, he was ignored, marginalized. They thought nothing of him. Here was the shame. Had He not taught correctly? Had He not shown them the vision of the kingdom? How could they not know the magnitude of these precious moments?
Temptation for the Son of God began to show power, to bring the angel army, to finally prove to them the worth of who he was. But he repressed all of that. Why? Because in order to truly show the power of who he was, he not only had to bear the cross, but to endure the scorn, and the shame as well. The shame of a criminal: naked, bleeding, and worthless to all who stood near.
He had been betrayed. He had been condemned. He had been beaten. And now he was to face further humiliation at the hands of the guards, who took his clothes, and left him naked on the ground. This is where we think the shame lies, in his nakedness. We can so scarcely think of anything more embarrassing than that. Some have dreams, even nightmares about being naked.
But the humiliation for Jesus occurred as they gambled for his clothes. As he was being prepared for death, the men who had led him up to his place turned their attention to the garments instead of to the man. Not only was Jesus to be crucified, he was ignored, marginalized. They thought nothing of him. Here was the shame. Had He not taught correctly? Had He not shown them the vision of the kingdom? How could they not know the magnitude of these precious moments?
Temptation for the Son of God began to show power, to bring the angel army, to finally prove to them the worth of who he was. But he repressed all of that. Why? Because in order to truly show the power of who he was, he not only had to bear the cross, but to endure the scorn, and the shame as well. The shame of a criminal: naked, bleeding, and worthless to all who stood near.
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We encourage you to write a letter to Jesus as you interact with this station.