When God Says …
“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” (John 19:23-24 KJV).
This humiliating state of our Lord Jesus being stripped naked and nailed on the cross, as He bore our sin inherited from Adam (not like the manicured cross used by religion), displayed in full view of the crowded city of Jerusalem, brings us to that moment in the garden. When Adam and Eve fell to the serpent’s temptation, they were stripped off the garment of holiness in the likeness of God. Then, they realized they were naked. They attempted covering themselves with fig leaves. But the Lord driven by love did the first offering of blood. 'Killed an animal to sew garment of its hide for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7-21). God clothed them by His grace, they who just committed the first sin. Yeah, that's the sin that brought death into this world, which infected us all.
Hence, the Lord Jesus who loved us, not neglecting that curse, went through this humiliation as He hung on the cross. They ripped His garments into Four parts, one piece for each soldier, and they gambled on His cloak. His executioners stripped Him off naked so our nakedness is reversed. As our Lord Jesus Christ overcame the cross in nakedness, we are now restored fully dressed by His holiness, as we put our faith in Him. We, now being God’s children, born again by faith, are clothe in true righteousness and holiness by His finished work on the cross and resurrection (Ephesians 4:24).
Hence, by His grace the Lord Jesus reminds us not to be anxious in His Sermon on the Mount. He said: “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:28-33 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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