When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. – John 19:23-25
The stripping of a dead person’s body of its possessions may be called the final indignity. Even in death, a person should be allowed some dignity. To strip the body of its belongings and leave it naked or mutilated is to shame that body. The dead person should be allowed some dignity, even in death.
In the portion of the text taken from St. John, we are told that after the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them among themselves. Obviously, it was the custom of the soldiers to take the belongings of a condemned person after that person had been executed.
Jesus did not have very much earthly possessions. His earthly possessions were confined to the clothing on his back. The soldiers took them for themselves. As Jesus’ tortured and lifeless body hung from the cross, the soldiers stripped him of his last dignity.
Once they had taken his clothing, he had no earthly possessions left. Scripture tells us that they took his life, and, finally, in the end, the soldiers took his dignity.
His life he gave up for us, who deserve the wrath of God, but in love, he bore the disgrace of the cross for us. He bled and died for our sins. He hung from the cross in shame and disgrace, so that you and I could have our dignity.
The soldiers divided his clothing. When they came to the last piece of item, his undergarment, they cast lot for it. They did not want to tear it.
They were gambling for his clothing. Gambling is something we in the church usually frown upon. We believe that gambling “encourages the sins of greed and covetousness. It further promotes the mismanagement of possessions entrusted to us by God.” (Concordia Pulpit Resources Quarterly Journal Pent to Easter pg. 54)
Gambling can become an addictive behavior. Every day, people take money, which they should use for food, clothing, and shelter and throw it at a game of chance.
Here, the soldiers at the foot of the cross decided to gamble for the undergarment of Jesus. They risked nothing, but end up with his garments. He risked everything, even his life and, in the end, his final dignity.
All of this happened, so that you and I can inherit eternal life. This is the reason we come to Lent. Our Lenten journey reminds us that we are sinful beings.
We do not deserve anything from God, yet He showers us with His grace and mercy. He gave up His son to be a ransom for us. Through the son, all men are drawn to Him.
We Christians are called to share our faith with the people of the world. The people of the world include those around us, those with whom we come into contact, even people we have never and will never hope to see face to face. Tell them about Jesus who was humiliated and disgraced for our salvation. Tell them about the love of God in Jesus Christ.
Share this story of the cross. You can do so through your offerings, your gifts to mission work, by the work you do in your neighborhood and in your congregation. Your cell phone is a good way to share the gospel. You can begin by sharing this message with others. Amen.
• Reverend Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Dr can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone 426-9084; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.