6.17.13 Being Consumed By Consumables

John 19:23-24

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill the Scripture that says:They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing. And this is what the soldiers did.

The Bible says that the soldiers did this to fulfill scripture. The reference brings us back to Psalm 22.

Psalms 22:16-18 For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me. They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.

The account of Jesus crucifixion seems so trite. Here you have the Son of God being crucified for the sins of all who will put their trust in him, and the soldiers are dividing up Jesus’ cloths on the ground in front of him. They are completely unaware of the significance that surrounds them.

Jesus prophetic word in Psalm 22 helps us to see what Jesus saw. He tells us that “dogs,” a “gang of evildoers” have closed in on him. People are walking by, presumably reading the sign above Jesus’ head, and staring at our naked Savior bruised and battered hanging on a tree.

Do you treat the crucifixion of Jesus as trite? It may become easy for us to do trite things on the floor in our living room as the account of the crucifixion is read. But we as a family must fight those sinful thoughts of complacency. For this account itself reminds us that Jesus at Golgotha was bearing the punishment for our complacent sinful thoughts; along with many, many others.

• How can we treat Jesus with the honor and care that he deserves?

The soldiers were more absorbed with the clothing and garments of Jesus then the person of Jesus. To be absorbed with externals in our modern day is called Materialism.

• Do you find yourself to be in any way materialistic like the soldiers whom Jesus calls “dogs” and “evildoers”?
  • If so, what do you think Jesus thinks about this?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.