Being Stripped Naked
Article #17 on the Passion of Jesus Christ
Publicly stripping people naked, even for the purpose of torture and execution, is an open display of contempt being projected upon those who are condemned to die. The personal sense of loss can become overwhelming when the very last thing in your possession is taken from you, even your very own clothes. Upon being stripped of dignity and respect, the person is made to feel unwanted, unloved, and without value to society. Historically speaking, it was ordinary for people to be stripped for crucifixions in Rome. The Roman soldiers who were present would then divide the clothing as a payment for the job.
“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” – Matt. 27:35
“And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.” - Mark 15:24
“And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.” – Luke 23:34b
“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” - John 19:23-24
The Evangelists are unanimous in their testimony with remarkable detail. In preparation for the crucifixion, Jesus Christ was stripped of “His garments”. These included “His coat” and undergarment; the former having no seam and the latter having seams. The garment with seams was divided among four soldiers and then they casted lots for the seamless one so that it would remain intact.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John gave the details on how the differing garments were divided among the soldiers so that the reader might be certain that Jesus was completely unclothed and stripped for the crucifixion. As a matter of fact, this despicable act of shame was foretold a thousand years before Christ was even born (Heb. 12:2).
“I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.” - Psalm 22:17-18
Even from eternity it was all ordained so to be. Matthew and John emphasized that this explicit act was a fulfillment of Scripture (Matt. 27:35, Jn. 19:24). Hereby, the Evangelists brought into view the whole scene of Psalm 22 as a divine interpretation to what was transpiring. That interpretation makes it abundantly clear that what was happening to the Messiah was substitutionary.
“‘They look and stare upon Me.’ Unholy eyes gazed insultingly upon the Saviour's nakedness, and shocked the sacred delicacy of his holy soul. The sight of the agonizing body ought to have ensured sympathy from the throng, but it only increased their savage mirth, as they gloated their cruel eyes upon his miseries. Let us blush for human nature and mourn in sympathy with our Redeemer's shame. The first Adam made us all naked, and therefore the second Adam became naked that he might clothe our naked souls.” – C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David
The eternal One was unclothed and killed so that mortal men might be clothed with immortality; as it is written, “If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.” (2 Cor. 5:3-4). In dying the Prince of Life merits the resurrection of spiritually dead sinners (Acts 3:15). Why? Because the debasement of a heavenly Man merits the exaltation of earthly men (Lk. 14:11, 18:14). The shame of a sinless Man merits honor for sinners (Heb. 12:2). The nakedness of the Son of God merits a covering for shameful sinners – even white robes of righteousness for the adorning and beautification of condemned criminals.
This open display of contempt for the Son of God merits an open display of love towards the sons of men. The disrespect shown to so great a King merits the allowance of divine respect toward lawless criminals – so that those who would otherwise be justly unwanted in Heaven are then endowed with a divine righteousness that lifts sinners up from the dunghill and seats them at the table of the Kingdom of God forevermore (Ps. 138:6; Lev. 26:9, 2 Kings 13:23).
“Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not?” – Mk. 8:18a
Noble sinners may be adorned with the most extravagant attire on earth, but in Heaven’s eyes they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and “naked” (Rev. 3:17). The Cross changes everything. Do you see things as God sees them? Think about it (Isa. 3:16-26; Matt. 13:14-15). A divine voice of pity freely offers wretched men “white raiment” – a heavenly attire that is gifted to sinners as an endowment of divine righteousness. Why? Speaking for Himself, Jesus Christ said, “that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Rev. 3:18, 16:15). Compassionately, the Savior of the world desires to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Accordingly, everyone in Heaven is clothed with the “white robes” of Christ’s righteousness (Rev. 6:11, 7:9, 13, 14, 19:14). Nevertheless, sinners need to feel the shame of their own nakedness (Gen. 3:7, Ex. 32:25, 2 Chron. 28:19, Ezek. 16:22)! Only then will they see value in the ghastly sight of the Cross (Isa. 61:1-3).
