The Robe

Behind the shed near the campfire, a fight broke out. “I want it. I saw it first.”

“No, give it to me. I deserve it.”

“No! It’s mine. As I said, I saw it first.”

It was a cast-off, just an old used coat. But there was something special about it. It was woven with the finest of threads, and it had to have cost a fortune when it was new.

Tugging on one of the sleeves, a third man yanked it free from the others. “Stop it, you guys. You’ll ruin it. Let’s draw straws. Long straw wins.”

A fist of straws was made, and everyone chose their straw.

The Bible says that when Jesus was taken to be crucified, the soldiers took his robe and drew lots for it. It was a beautifully made woven robe with no seams. It was perfect except that it wasn’t. Jesus cast it off because it represented everything that was wrong about it.

The soldiers couldn’t see the other robe that hung on the cross. They couldn’t comprehend the value of the seamless, perfect garment they had nailed so carelessly on the wooden beams. The robe of righteousness and garment of salvation, pierced with nails and thorns, stained with blood became our garment that covers all of our sins, our brokenness, and failures.

What happened to the seamless earthen robe? Some say it is preserved in a glass case.  That thousands visit to get a glimpse of what might have been worn by the greatest man who walked this earth. But for me, I put it on every day and remind myself of the gift that was given to me that day on an old rugged cross.

John 19:23-24

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,

Isaiah 61:10

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