The apostle John wrote how, “they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-three of his book John wrote how, “the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part;” John began with the words, “then the soldiers” which means “at that time the Roman warriors or officers”, “when they had crucified Jesus” or “at the time and moment the Roman officers had driven down with stakes, palisade and impaled the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation upon a cross”, “took his garments” which means “lay hold of, carried away, claimed and procured his, Jesus', cloak or mantle and the tunic or upper garment”, “and made four parts” or “and fashioned, produced and provided four different segments or portions”, “to every soldier a part” which means “to each of the Roman warriors and officers an equal segment or portion”. John shared how the Roman officers lay hold of Jesus' outer garments and split them into “four parts” to which each one of the four received and equal portion.
The verse continues, “and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.” John added the words, “and also his coat” or “and even so and indeed his, Jesus', tunic, undergarment or vestment which is usually worn next to the skin”: “now the coat was without seam” which means “moreover the tunic, undergarment or vestment which was worn next to the skin was not sewed together”, “woven from the top throughout” or “weaved from the top portion of the tunic to the remainder of the garment”. John shared how the “Roman officers” obtained the undergarment which Jesus wore on His way to the cross, and they decided to do something quite different with it.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the Roman “soldiers” took advantage of the final belongings of Jesus. While Jesus hung on the cross, the Romans were benefiting from His possessions on earth. God allowed these “soldiers” to do this to fulfill yet another prophesy concerning the death of Jesus for the sins of the world. (See Psalm 22:18) God's love for people motivated Him to send His Son Jesus into the world to “die” for their sins, and everyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will carefully examine every detail of Jesus' life and understand He allowed these things so they might be saved.
Next time John shares how the soldiers, “cast lots” for Jesus' coat, 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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