John 19:16-24 (ESV)
So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,
Devotional Meditation for Good Friday
John is careful to note that the tunic Jesus wore was seamless--woven together as one piece. This detail indicates both its craftsmanship and its high value. In preparation for his crucifixion, Jesus’ costly garment is stripped from him and it is given to his executioners as a prize. Jesus is nailed to the cross naked--covered in nothing but his own blood and sweat.
If we trace the word tunic (chiton in Greek; catoneh in Hebrew) in the Old Testament, an interesting picture emerges. The word is first used in Gen. 3.21:
And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
The man who disobeyed the Word of God and brought the curse of sin and death upon all creation is clothed with a tunic made by God. His nakedness is covered. His shame is concealed. It is a sign of the promise that God has just spoken. The promise that the offspring of the woman would undo the curse by crushing the head of the serpent.
The story of Joseph (Gen. 37) tells us of yet another special tunic--the coat woven for Joseph by his father, Jacob, as a sign of his love and favor. Out of jealously, Joseph was stripped of this coat by the very brothers who should have loved him. They mistreated him. They sold him for the price of a slave. They covered his coat in blood and presented it to their grief-stricken father. They had no idea that the brother they had hated and betrayed would one day rise to power and become the source of their salvation--forgiving their sins and inviting them to live under his royal protection.
In Exodus 28 and Leviticus 6, God gives Moses instructions for how Aaron, the high priest, is to be clothed when he carries out his intercessory duties on behalf of the people. The high priest was not to approach God wearing whatever he felt like, or whatever he happened to pick out that day. His garments, including a special tunic, were to be holy, that is, dedicated and set apart for this special purpose. Only when clothed in these garments was the high priest considered prepared and worthy to approach and stand before the Holy God of Israel.
Finally, in Isaiah 61:10, we hear the voice of one who is rejoicing in the salvation that God has brought to his people:
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
If it wasn’t clear already, Isaiah puts an exclamation point on it. Adam’s clothing, Joseph’s coat, and the high priest’s tunic are all signs that point to one single reality: God is going to save unrighteous sinners by covering them in his own righteousness.
Which brings us back to the crucifixion scene John describes. Now, we see the full picture. Jesus is the man who stands in the place of Adam. Jesus is the Beloved Son who has been betrayed by his brothers. Jesus is the high priest who, just hours earlier, interceded in prayer on the behalf of all those whom his Father had given him. This Jesus is stripped of his tunic. Bearing Adam’s shame, wounded by betrayal, and as a sacrificial lamb--Jesus is laid on the wood and lifted up before a crowd of sinners. The great exchange is complete. He is naked. His tunic is their prize.
Your salvation was costly. Not to you. But to Jesus. On this Good Friday, the Son of God endured the cross--despising the shame--so that he might cover your shame and nakedness with his own righteousness.
Image Description (AI Prompt)
A seamless linen tunic, reminiscent of the first century, lies abandoned on the ground, casting a narrative of history and mystery. The fabric, pure and untouched by time, is marred with spots of blood, adding a dramatic and somber tone to the scene. The tunic's placement and the shadows around it suggest a story untold, evoking a sense of solemnity and reflection. The overall atmosphere of the image is one of dramatic tension, with the stark contrast between the innocence of the linen and the violence suggested by the blood. The composition focuses on the garment, with minimal background to emphasize its significance.