They inherit all that the Man on the cross possessed – His
clothing.
They have divided Jesus’ clothes into four parts.
These would include the large piece of cloth that was
thrown over the shoulder, and the belt, and sandals.
But then they come to the robe underneath that hung down
to the feet.
It’s one piece of woven cloth, without seams, and they
think it a shame to rip that up into four parts.
So they shoot the dice to see who will win it.
It seems to be a terribly irreverent thing to record at
this terrible moment in Jesus’ life.
But it must have been very significant to the four gospel
writers, because all four recorded it!
One reason for it’s being significant to them is the fact that
David spoke about it almost 1,000 years before.
Psalm 22:
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have
pierced
my hands and my feet. They divide
my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
David had no experience like that in his life – he wasn’t
talking about himself.
Rather he was prophesying the Messiah’s sufferings, and it
fits only Jesus 1,000 years later.
(Read the whole psalm.)
But again, why would this little incident be so important that
it was even included in prophecy?
It must symbolize something much greater than itself.
And, sure enough, we find real significance in these words
about a robe.
But let’s back up – all the way back to Adam – to lay the
groundwork.
Before Adam surrendered to sin, he walked in the white
and honorable robe of perfect innocence.
* He was a child in his Father’s house.
* He walked with God in intimate fellowship.
* He was in effective charge of his Father’s world.
Then came the tragic grab for independence, and everything
changed.
* Now he runs away from God & hides.
* To the question of God, “Adam, where are you?” he answers
“I was afraid, and hid, because I was naked.”
Don’t you see yourself here?
Adam’s nakedness is ours.
Not a thread of the original righteousness is left to us.
Our original beauty is lost.
What we were meant to be is out of reach.
And, yes, we too run from God and hide.
The Law of God, written on our hearts, accuses us.
It’s uncomfortable to be around Him.
Some go so far as to run away from Him by denying that
He even exists.
Deep down, every one of us knows that we don’t dare appear
naked before a holy God.
As much as some try to convince themselves that they’re OK,
we really know that we’re like the king whose tailors
deceived him into thinking he had clothes on…
…when, as a matter of fact, the king had no clothes!
Where do we go for the clothes to cover our moral nakedness?
Paul will help us.
In Romans he tells us, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let’s follow up on that.
Beneath the outer garment of Jesus’ marvelous & active life,
He wore a robe.
It was the robe of perfect obedience – a life that pleased
His Father in absolutely every way.
Many eyes examined Him for faults, even His enemies, and
no one could find any.
Even God looked Him over and said, “This is my beloved Son
in whom I delight.”
That beautiful robe was made up of pure love to God & man,
without blemish or spot.
And that robe is symbolized by the seamless robe at the cross.
Just as the seamless robe became the legacy of a Roman
soldier, Jesus perfect robe of righteousness is your
legacy as a believer.
Paul writes, “As by one man’s disobedience (that’s Adam) many were made
sinners,so by the obedience of one man (that’s Jesus), many were made
righteous.”
clothing.
They have divided Jesus’ clothes into four parts.
These would include the large piece of cloth that was
thrown over the shoulder, and the belt, and sandals.
But then they come to the robe underneath that hung down
to the feet.
It’s one piece of woven cloth, without seams, and they
think it a shame to rip that up into four parts.
So they shoot the dice to see who will win it.
It seems to be a terribly irreverent thing to record at
this terrible moment in Jesus’ life.
But it must have been very significant to the four gospel
writers, because all four recorded it!
One reason for it’s being significant to them is the fact that
David spoke about it almost 1,000 years before.
Psalm 22:
Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have
pierced
my hands and my feet. They divide
my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
David had no experience like that in his life – he wasn’t
talking about himself.
Rather he was prophesying the Messiah’s sufferings, and it
fits only Jesus 1,000 years later.
(Read the whole psalm.)
But again, why would this little incident be so important that
it was even included in prophecy?
It must symbolize something much greater than itself.
And, sure enough, we find real significance in these words
about a robe.
But let’s back up – all the way back to Adam – to lay the
groundwork.
Before Adam surrendered to sin, he walked in the white
and honorable robe of perfect innocence.
* He was a child in his Father’s house.
* He walked with God in intimate fellowship.
* He was in effective charge of his Father’s world.
Then came the tragic grab for independence, and everything
changed.
* Now he runs away from God & hides.
* To the question of God, “Adam, where are you?” he answers
“I was afraid, and hid, because I was naked.”
Don’t you see yourself here?
Adam’s nakedness is ours.
Not a thread of the original righteousness is left to us.
Our original beauty is lost.
What we were meant to be is out of reach.
And, yes, we too run from God and hide.
The Law of God, written on our hearts, accuses us.
It’s uncomfortable to be around Him.
Some go so far as to run away from Him by denying that
He even exists.
Deep down, every one of us knows that we don’t dare appear
naked before a holy God.
As much as some try to convince themselves that they’re OK,
we really know that we’re like the king whose tailors
deceived him into thinking he had clothes on…
…when, as a matter of fact, the king had no clothes!
Where do we go for the clothes to cover our moral nakedness?
Paul will help us.
In Romans he tells us, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let’s follow up on that.
Beneath the outer garment of Jesus’ marvelous & active life,
He wore a robe.
It was the robe of perfect obedience – a life that pleased
His Father in absolutely every way.
Many eyes examined Him for faults, even His enemies, and
no one could find any.
Even God looked Him over and said, “This is my beloved Son
in whom I delight.”
That beautiful robe was made up of pure love to God & man,
without blemish or spot.
And that robe is symbolized by the seamless robe at the cross.
Just as the seamless robe became the legacy of a Roman
soldier, Jesus perfect robe of righteousness is your
legacy as a believer.
Paul writes, “As by one man’s disobedience (that’s Adam) many were made
sinners,so by the obedience of one man (that’s Jesus), many were made
righteous.”
There is a double gift that you receive from Jesus when you
put your trust in Him:
1. Forgiveness.
The punishment has been taken by Him.
You are “un-condemned.”
2. But not only that.
Christ fulfilled the total Law of God thru His perfectly
obedient life.
That righteousness is now yours.
When God looks at you, He sees His own Son’s
righteousness!
Listen to Isaiah’s words (61:10-11) I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in
my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a
robe of righteousness.
Jesus’ flawless righteousness now covers you like a robe.
A holy God looks at you and remembers what His Son did
for you.
And He says to you, “You are my beloved daughter in whom
I delight.
“You are my beloved son, in whom I delight.”
When you’re down on yourself…
When you’re crushed with your failures…
When your conscience condemns you – rightly or wrongly –
remember that there is a higher Judge whose Son has paid
the price for your guilt…
…and when you come to Him in sorrow, He rushes to you
like the father of the returning prodigal son, and
covers you once more with Jesus’ blood-bought
robe of righteousness.
Remember that the soldier who got that robe received it without
any merit of his own – he just cast the dice.
And you are justified only by His grace, and not because
you’ve been pious enough – not even because you’ve
repented enough – but only because He loves
you and paid the full price.
I’m sure that the possession of that robe had a great influence
on that soldier.
There must have been times when he wore that robe, looked
down at it and felt ashamed as he remembered whose
it was.
There is a novel called, “The Robe” in which that robe
prepared its owner to eventually become a Christian.
So remember what a powerful influence the robe of Christ’s
righteousness will have on your life.
It will change you; it will make you grateful daily; it
will drive you to Him to worship & fellowship.
What’s the relationship of all this to the Supper of our Lord?
In the Supper, you really receive nothing that you don’t already
have.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t need it, or that it isn’t
extremely important in your Christian life.
Think of a husband & wife who have a good marriage.
In one way or another, they renew their marriage vows
daily.
I don’t mean they repeat the vows they spoke at the altar.
But the words “I love you” are spoken often;
And there are daily hugs & kisses, and other
expressions of affection & commitment.
Is that because they were ceasing to be “one flesh”?
No. That’s a given; that’s a fact that stands for life.
Then why all the repeated expressions of commitment?
Because they need to be reassured.
Doubts arise. Life is complicated.
There are distractions.
There are messy moments…
moments of disagreement, even anger.
Are things still OK with my beloved and me?
How kind of Jesus to give us His Supper.
Something to be repeated often.
Is that because His robe no longer covers me? No.
His Supper is a place for reassurance that the relationship
stands fast.
That despite the distractions of life…
…despite the ups and downs of my feelings &
zeal for Him…
…despite my failures in being faithful…
He still unconditionally welcomes repentant me.
He says, “Come, let’s re-enact it all.”
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Put me on again…and again…and again.
“You are my beloved son or daughter in whom I delight.
“Put on the robe of righteousness that is already yours;.
“Receive my body and blood afresh – the body and blood
with which you are always in union.
“You need reassurance? Look, here is bread and wine.
They contain my body & blood.
How much more concrete can I be about giving
myself to you?”
(Sing, “I am covered over…”)
put your trust in Him:
1. Forgiveness.
The punishment has been taken by Him.
You are “un-condemned.”
2. But not only that.
Christ fulfilled the total Law of God thru His perfectly
obedient life.
That righteousness is now yours.
When God looks at you, He sees His own Son’s
righteousness!
Listen to Isaiah’s words (61:10-11) I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in
my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a
robe of righteousness.
Jesus’ flawless righteousness now covers you like a robe.
A holy God looks at you and remembers what His Son did
for you.
And He says to you, “You are my beloved daughter in whom
I delight.
“You are my beloved son, in whom I delight.”
When you’re down on yourself…
When you’re crushed with your failures…
When your conscience condemns you – rightly or wrongly –
remember that there is a higher Judge whose Son has paid
the price for your guilt…
…and when you come to Him in sorrow, He rushes to you
like the father of the returning prodigal son, and
covers you once more with Jesus’ blood-bought
robe of righteousness.
Remember that the soldier who got that robe received it without
any merit of his own – he just cast the dice.
And you are justified only by His grace, and not because
you’ve been pious enough – not even because you’ve
repented enough – but only because He loves
you and paid the full price.
I’m sure that the possession of that robe had a great influence
on that soldier.
There must have been times when he wore that robe, looked
down at it and felt ashamed as he remembered whose
it was.
There is a novel called, “The Robe” in which that robe
prepared its owner to eventually become a Christian.
So remember what a powerful influence the robe of Christ’s
righteousness will have on your life.
It will change you; it will make you grateful daily; it
will drive you to Him to worship & fellowship.
What’s the relationship of all this to the Supper of our Lord?
In the Supper, you really receive nothing that you don’t already
have.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t need it, or that it isn’t
extremely important in your Christian life.
Think of a husband & wife who have a good marriage.
In one way or another, they renew their marriage vows
daily.
I don’t mean they repeat the vows they spoke at the altar.
But the words “I love you” are spoken often;
And there are daily hugs & kisses, and other
expressions of affection & commitment.
Is that because they were ceasing to be “one flesh”?
No. That’s a given; that’s a fact that stands for life.
Then why all the repeated expressions of commitment?
Because they need to be reassured.
Doubts arise. Life is complicated.
There are distractions.
There are messy moments…
moments of disagreement, even anger.
Are things still OK with my beloved and me?
How kind of Jesus to give us His Supper.
Something to be repeated often.
Is that because His robe no longer covers me? No.
His Supper is a place for reassurance that the relationship
stands fast.
That despite the distractions of life…
…despite the ups and downs of my feelings &
zeal for Him…
…despite my failures in being faithful…
He still unconditionally welcomes repentant me.
He says, “Come, let’s re-enact it all.”
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Put me on again…and again…and again.
“You are my beloved son or daughter in whom I delight.
“Put on the robe of righteousness that is already yours;.
“Receive my body and blood afresh – the body and blood
with which you are always in union.
“You need reassurance? Look, here is bread and wine.
They contain my body & blood.
How much more concrete can I be about giving
myself to you?”
(Sing, “I am covered over…”)
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| Columns Section: 世紀網站專欄區 世纪网站专栏区: 007-010 柏大恩 專欄 柏大恩 专栏 Pastor Don Baron Column 作者：柏大恩 柏大恩 Pastor Don Baron |
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| Maundy Thurs 2000 A.D. |
“Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ”
John 19:23-24
Tonight, I’m looking ahead to Friday, to this small incident at
the crucifixion to shed light on the meaning of tonight’s
Supper.
There at the foot of the cross are four soldiers, playing a
crap game, of all things.
John 19:23-24
Tonight, I’m looking ahead to Friday, to this small incident at
the crucifixion to shed light on the meaning of tonight’s
Supper.
There at the foot of the cross are four soldiers, playing a
crap game, of all things.