April 9

Then the soldiers when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part. John 19:23.

IT was an ancient custom, for the garments of executed criminals to be divided among those who were employed on the occasion. It was in this way that the Redeemer was treated. Jesus was stripped of his garments, and they were divided among the soldiers who crucified him. The outer robe of Jesus was divided into four parts, each part of which was given to a distinct soldier. In this apparently unimportant matter, we are reminded however of the grand medium of our redemption, of the great price by which our acceptance with God was obtained. By sin we had become the victims of nakedness and shame. In such circumstances we could not possibly stand in the Divine presence, or be accepted of him. But Jesus is stripped of his only robe, and thus through his poverty, humiliation, and death, we obtain better robes than our first parents wore in Eden, even the garments of salvation. And as the garment of Christ was divided into four parts, it seems to intimate, that the four quarters of our globe are equally interested in the gracious provisions of redeeming love. And may we not further also infer, that as each of the soldiers obtained a part, that each sinful child of man, who humbly and believingly claims the garment of salvation, shall assuredly possess his part. And as the very crucifiers of Jesus, thus possessed his garments; are we not further instructed, that the Saviour's gospel is for the vilest of the vile, even the chief of sinners. While the children of this world are vainly seeking after gaudy finery, after splendid earthly attire, let it be our earnest wish, to be found clothed in the white robe of righteousness, that we may thus be permitted to mingle with the blood-washed throng, before the throne of God and the Lamb for ever.