The apostle John wrote how, “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”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-four of his book John wrote how the soldier said, “let us not rend it, but cast lots for it” where we read:
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 says, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
The verse reads, “They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be:” John began with the words, “they said therefore among themselves” which means “the Roman officers uttered, declared and proclaimed to one another”, “let us not rend it” or “allow and permit us, Roman officers, to in no way cleave asunder, divide, tear, rip or spit the coat into factions”, “but cast lots for it” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover obtain by lot, receive by divine allotment or determine by alternative means the coat”, “whose it shall be” or “to whom the coat will belong”. John shared how the Roman officers decided not to tear Jesus' “coat” without a seam, but rather “cast lots” or “gamble” for ownership of it.
The verse goes on to say, “that the scripture might be fulfilled, which says, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” John continued with the words, “that the scripture” or “so the Holy Writ and prophesy” “might be fulfilled” which means “may be completed, consummated or carried out”, “which says” or “that affirms, maintains and teaches”, “they parted my raiment among them” which means “they, the Roman officers, divided and separated my, the Messiah's, garments or clothing with one another”, “and for my vesture” or “and upon my, the Messiah's, apparel or array” “they did cast lots” which means “they, the Roman soldiers, obtained by lot, received by divine allotment or determined by alternate means”. “These things therefore the soldiers did” or “the Roman soldiers fulfilled the parting of Jesus' clothing and gambling for His coat”. John shared how the Roman soldiers' attempt to obtain Jesus' clothing and coat actually fulfilled the Holy Scripture which prophesied they would do so. (See Psalm 22:18)
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn not only how the Roman soldiers divided Jesus' clothing among themselves, but also that they gambled with one another by “casting lots” to determine who would receive His “coat”. This fulfilled the prophesy concerning the Messiah that proclaimed they would do so, and this again confirms Jesus to be God's Christ and Messiah. God's detailed plan of the salvation of mankind through His Son Jesus was being fulfilled, and even the Roman soldiers completed their role in His death. God loves people, and each particular act concerning Jesus' death was planned to reveal His redemption for mankind. When a person yields their life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, God will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him. Those who are wise will examine the scriptures and find them to be true over and over again concerning Jesus, and when they make those discoveries, may they surrender their lives to the only One who can save them for all eternity.
Next time John shares how, “there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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