What Jesus Did : John 19:23-24 - The Gamble
by Phil Ware
The Gamble - John 19:23-24
After the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, they took his clothes. They divided his clothes into four parts. Each soldier got one part. They also took his tunic. It was all one piece of cloth woven from top to bottom. So the soldiers said to each other, "We should not tear this into parts {to divide it}. We should choose lots to see who will get it." This happened so that it would be like the Scripture said: "They divided my clothes among them. And they threw lots for my clothing." So the soldiers did this. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
There was a whole lot more gambling going on at the Cross than just the gamble for Jesus' seamless robe. Some gambled that their understanding was correct enough to put another man to death even though he did amazing things. Some gambled that Jesus was just another Jewish criminal being executed, never imagining they were putting nails in the hands of God himself. Others gambled that their mockery was justified and had a worthy target. No one should look at the Cross and then reject it without realizing the horrible gamble being made. If Jesus is the Son of God, then everything is completely different ... new ... clean ... holy!
Today's Prayer
I am simply amazed and stunned at your bold "risk" of love in Jesus. We, your people, have often rejected your greatest gifts of love. How could you keep loving us so much, Father, that you would offer, and dare I say it, risk, such a costly gift? I do not understand it, but I do believe it and I offer you my life, my love and my all in Jesus name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
So Pilate gave Jesus to them to be killed on a cross. The soldiers took Jesus. Jesus carried his own cross. He went out to a place called "The Place of the Skull." (In the Jewish language the name of this place is "Golgotha.") At Golgotha they nailed Jesus to the cross. They also put two other men on crosses. They put the men on each side of Jesus with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross. The sign said, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." The sign was written in the Jewish language, in Latin, and in Greek. Many of the Jews read the sign, because this place where they killed Jesus on the cross was near the city. The leading Jewish priests said to Pilate, "Don't write, 'The King of the Jews.' But write, 'This man said, I am the King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "I will not change what I have written." After the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, they took his clothes. They divided his clothes into four parts. Each soldier got one part. They also took his tunic. It was all one piece of cloth woven from top to bottom. So the soldiers said to each other, "We should not tear this into parts {to divide it}. We should choose lots to see who will get it." This happened so that it would be like the Scripture said: "They divided my clothes among them. And they threw lots for my clothing." So the soldiers did this. Jesus' mother stood near his cross. His mother's sister was also standing there with Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Jesus saw his mother. He also saw the follower that he loved very much standing there. He said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son." Then Jesus said to the follower, "Here is your mother." So after that, this follower took Jesus' mother to live in his home.-- John 19:16-27 (ERV)
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