Dressed in white

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLMENTS CONCERNING CHRIST

DRESSED IN WHITE

Ps 22:15-18

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

NIV

The third prophecy in this section of the Psalm deals with the soldiers casting lots for his robe. We find the account of this happening in all four of the gospels, although John is the only one who goes in more detail.  Perhaps because he was the closest to the cross with the mother of Jesus.

John 19:23-24

23 When 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 which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

NIV

This must have been an ultimate insult to not only have to hang in the cross naked, but have the very men who hung you there take all your clothes for themselves. Yet Christ gave it all, he gave everything of this world up, to suffer on the cross for us. Although it is true this was the very purpose he came, we have to know that during his lifetime he had developed very special relationships with people. There had to be an extremely special bond between Jesus and his mother. We know that even as he was dying he made sure John was to consider Mary as his mother, being as her son, caring for her, supporting her. Jesus also had special feelings for John, being called one he loves. There had to be many people who Jesus had touched their lives and who he cared for. Yet he came to this cross because he loved the whole of his creation, to die for everyone’s sin, so that whosoever believes will be saved. Now even his only possessions, his clothes are in the hands of the soldiers who hung him on the cross. When Jesus said that we are to take up our cross and follow him, could that imply we should be able to surrender all our possession as well, or at least be willing to? But this was not the end for Jesus for he rose from the dead and sometime later John saw Jesus again while he was given the revelation. This time Jesus was clothed in fine garments with a golden sash. This brings to mind that someday whether we want to or not, we too will leave all our earthy possessions behind, leaving naked as it were, just as Jesus did. But for us who overcome:

Rev 3:4-6

They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

NIV

When we step from here to there we will be given new robes, clean as the driven snow, without spot or blemish and our names will never be blotted out of the book of life. What a glorious day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace. What a day, glorious day that will be!