Audio - Wardrobe of the Crucifixion

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The Third Sunday in Lent
Wardrobe of the Crucifixion
March 15, 2009

TEXT:  (John 19:23-24 NKJ) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things.
 
Knowing God sent His Word to us through the many authors He chose—consider the day of Jesus’ crucifixion—the many tormenting events—the mocking of our Lord—removing Jesus’ clothing, wrapping Him in robes as part of the mocking and harassment—and eventually putting His own clothing back on Him for the march to Golgotha
 
Previously we discussed Jesus’ wardrobe superficially—Herod’s men dressed our Lord in a white robe that was fit for royalty to wear—Pilate’s soldiers dressed Jesus in a royal purple robe also suitable for royalty—and as they marched the Savior toward the place of the crucifixion, they put Jesus’ clothes back on Him
 
The White Robe Represents the Royal Priesthood of Christ
We also have discussed the spiritual symbolism of the details God provides us—in the example of the wardrobe, we see the white robe as a reminder that Jesus came to this world to be our High Priest—and He was about to offer the Ultimate Sacrifice—Himself!
 
Jesus, the Christ was appointed by God the Father to be our High Priest—Jesus was not a Levite—He was not a member of Aaron’s family—Jesus was made a High Priest because it was God’s desire for us—and because it was part of God’s plan from the beginning—the Levite priests died—and a new high priest filled the vacant position—Christ would be our High Priest forever
 
(Psalm 110:4 NKJ) The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
 
Melchizedek was a priest and a contemporary of Abraham—we are all familiar with Abraham—the man of faith given to us as a most excellent example—to help us understand that Melchizedek was a legitimate priest—God gives us the example of Abraham paying a tithe to Melchizedek
 
(Genesis 14:17-20 NKJ) And the king of Sodom went out to meet him [Abraham] at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
 
In that day, the place called Salem was on the location that would become Jerusalem—and we know that the place Jesus was condemned—executed—and was resurrected as our eternal High Priest was at the same place as Melchizedek was high priest—we don’t know much more about Melchizedek—but we do know that this event took place prior to Aaron and Moses leading the children of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt—which means Melchizedek did not get his title from Aaron or Moses—it came from God!—and just as God the Father appointed Melchizedek a priest—God the Father appointed Jesus, the Christ to be our High Priest for eternity
 
(Hebrews 5:5-11 NKJ) So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You." 6 As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek"; 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek," 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
 
(Hebrews 7:20-25 NKJ) And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn And will not relent,`You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek ' "), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
 
Now we must ask ourselves the question—how does all this affect us?—God provided this High Priest—Jesus, the Christ, to provide us a way to heaven
 
(Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJ) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
 
To close our discussion of Jesus as our High Priest—we need to understand the nautical historical term—FORERUNNER—in the day of sailing ships—large ships could not enter the small harbors without assistance—there were no tug boats to help—so the large ship carried a small boat called the forerunner—this smaller boat was large enough to carry the larger ship’s anchor into the harbor—and when they dropped it into the harbor, the larger ship could be winched into the safe haven of the cove or harbor—Christ our High Priest—is indeed our forerunner to heaven—He went to lead us in the WAY to the safety of our home in heaven—Jesus is the Way
 
The symbolism of the Old Testament recognizes the coming High Priest—what did Melchizedek bring to refresh Abraham and his men?—knowing that Abraham was to be the man God would use to fulfill His promises—Melchizedek brought wine and bread—the same promises of God are to be remembered when we partake of the Bread of the Body of Christ—and the wine which is the Blood of Christ
 
The Purple Robe of the King of Kings
 
We can see that the purple robe reminds us of the King of Kings—Jesus is the Heavenly King promised by God from the very fall of man—He is the King sought by the wise men
 
 
(Matthew 2:1-2 NKJ) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
 
Pontius Pilate recognized Jesus as King of the Jews—and Jesus explained that His kingdom was of no threat to Rome—His kingdom was not of this world
 
 
(John 18:37 NKJ) Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
 
Jesus was revealed to the Prophet Daniel as a King that would come—and His Kingdom would be forever
 
(Daniel 7:13-14 NKJ) "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
 
The Prophet Jeremiah spoke of the King that would come
 
(Jeremiah 23:5-6 NKJ) "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
 
There are many other references in Scripture to Jesus as the King of Kings—however, we will conclude our discussion with the vision God gave the Apostle John—the vision of the great battle of the Last Days—Good vs. evil
 
(Revelation 17:14 NKJ) "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."
 
 
 
Jesus goes to Golgotha in His Own Clothes—to Hang Naked on the Cross
 
We usually consider these strictly as fulfillment of Scripture—however, there is more for us to consider—Jesus is dressed in His humble garments of a poor man—that is, Jesus was not a man of wealth in this world’s measure—and what little He had would soon be taken from Him—His very garments would be taken as He would hang on the cross—naked—or perhaps wrapped in a rag much like the swaddling clothes He wore in the manger
 
What a contrast this provides—the poorest among men—in the world’s measure of wealth and being poor—leaves the greatest inheritance to the entire population of believers for all time—therefore the symbolism of the wardrobe is another lesson—the wisdom and wealth of this world gain nothing for life—a simple but profound lesson for all of us
 
(Ecclesiastes 5:15 NKJ) As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.
 
But perhaps the best way to appreciate our Lord’s naked body hanging on the cross that dreadful day—is to understand that in the culture of the day—an enemy would be humiliated and shamed by being sent off with his buttocks exposed—the devil and his workers thought they were killing Jesus—they sent Him to the cross naked—little did they know that He was the King of the Jews—the King of Kings—and that God the Father would glorify Him beyond all human imagination—Naked He was hung on the cross—and in the glory of God He was resurrected
 
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!