Devotional Meditations

by J.R. LUCK | Category: Devotional Meditations | Oct 1962

"They part My garments among them, and upon My vesture do they cast lots."

(For reading, Psalm 22.17, 18. John 19.28, 24)

Let us reverently draw near in thought to the One upon the central cross at Calvary. In our present meditation, as we think of the implication of the above scriptures, we shall endeavour to appreciate something of the ignominy suffered by the Lord Jesus as Man, the God-Man. That the Scriptures might be fulfilled our Saviour was reviled by the soldiers who stripped Him of His garments. This fact is foretold by the psalmist and recorded in all four Gospels.

Genesis 3.7 and 21 tells us of the consequences of our first parents' sin, inasmuch as they were stripped of the perfect innocence that had been theirs, and they realized that they were naked. The making of fig-leaf aprons to cover their nakedness speaks of their natural, yet futile, endeavour; also they sought to hide themselves from their Maker, God. But the issue is not left with them, for we are informed of the merciful action of God in clothing them with coats of skin from animals whose lives had been taken that they might be thus covered.

These animals, slain that they might provide a covering for Adam and Eve, were typical of Him who should come and, by His death, clothe the repentant sinner in the perfect righteousness of God, that thus he might be acceptable to the Holy One. There is no other way, it is the truth of the gospel, oft repeated, that "therein is revealed a righteousness of God by faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith." (1) "Him who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2)

This is God's way, and there is no other, though man, clad in the polluted garment of his own righteousness, vainly attempts to meet God thus (Isaiah 64.6). The prodigal son, looking down upon his filthy garments, and correctly evaluating them against the background of his father's wealth, decided to arise and cast himself upon his father's mercy. We know the happy sequel, that, upon his confession of unworthiness, he was clothed with the best robe; his rags forgotten, his wanderings and debauchery forgiven, he sat down at the father's well-furnished table. This, spiritually, is our blessed portion in the present and for all eternity!

We know not the names of the soldiers who parted His garments among them, nor that of the soldier on whom the lot fell, who came into possession of the seamless coat of our blessed Lord. But the names of those who are covered with God's perfect righteousness are written in heaven. Isaiah (though he spoke firstly of Israel's remnant) used words, the blessing of which is ours also who believe: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." (3)

Let us revert to the unnamed Roman soldier, for a moment, who was one of four such executioners at the cross and who came into possession of the coat. What a picture of unworthy, hell-deserving sinners, men and women conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity, walking in the ways of the Christ-rejecting world, heedless of Calvary's cross until arrested by Him who died thereon! With no plea, save their utter need, God covers them in the flawless robe of the righteousness of God, henceforth to stand complete in Him against whom no charge can be preferred.

Adam, because of his disobedience, stood devoid of all dress before his Maker and, as Adam's sons, we too are in that awful plight (Hebrews 4.18), until the righteousness of God in Christ clothes us, for, "as through one trespass the judgement came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One shall the many be made righteous." (4)

Complete forgiveness and imputation of God's righteousness are appropriated by faith on our part. Thus God can righteously justify the guilty sinner who accepts the provision made and offered through Christ Jesus.

Returning ones He kisses,

And with His robe invests,

His perfect love dismisses

All terror from our breasts."

(1)Romans 1. 17.(2) 2 Corinthians 5.21.

(3) Isaiah 61. 10.(4) Romans 5.18-19.

J.R. LUCK | Oct 1962
Devotional Meditations