Robed in Love

Read John 19:16-27
 
John 19:24 The soldiers said to one another, “Let's not tear it; let's throw dice to see who will get it.”
 
THE soldiers who hung Jesus on the cross now await his death. Our Lord hangs naked. It’s not enough to be beaten to the bone, a mass of blood, torn flesh and pain. The nakedness adds to the shame, as he dies an excruciatingly painful death. It is the ultimate insult. Then his crucifiers have a new task now. “What’s in it for me?” is their attitude as they focus their attention on his robe.
    The soldiers are so much like our culture. The Lord of Creation hangs on a cross while the soldiers gamble over a garment. They pursue pleasure and ignore the shame of their Savior. They have time to seek worldly desires, but they have no time to pay attention to Jesus.
    There are too many days that I pursue worldly things more than I do him. There are days I’d rather focus on the immediate than see the eternal. Even when Jesus is hanging on the cross, even when he has submitted himself to ultimate shame, even when he is naked because of my sin, I’d rather pay attention to worldly desires.
    What then, must I do? I must look upon my crucified Savior. My crucified Savior has been patient and merciful with me. When I was wayward for years, he welcomed me back. When I take time for worldly things instead of his things, he gently reminds me where I need to be. When I doubt his love, he shows me the height, width, depth and length of his extravagant love. When my mind is restless, he whispers, “I am here. It’s okay.” and he gives me peace as I join with him once again. The soldiers gambled for his robe. His robe was specially made. There are no seams, no place to tear it apart. His spiritual robe is the same way, only it covers so much more.
 
Resurrection Truth: Turn to Jesus and be robed in his love.