The Grace that Saves Us

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 (John 19: 23-24).

Once again we behold the irony of the cross. As the Son of God laid down His life and put off His earthly body, the Roman soldiers greedily divided up His worldly clothing. To the victor belong the spoils? There was enough of this common criminal’s clothing to go around. Each of four soldiers received a share. But when they came to His tunic, the linen undergarment that was worn close to His body, they noted that it was “seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom”. Rather than tear it apart, they cast lots to see who would get this special garment. We may wonder why Roman soldiers would covet the clothing of such a humiliated and disgraced man, but the Holy Spirit reveals the true, hidden reason for their actions… “This was to fulfill the Scripture”. To the discerning heart, the grace of God is evident and active in every moment at Calvary, and today’s scene illustrates even more important truth about God’s grace in the work of salvation. Insensitive to the grace of God, still… “The soldiers did these things”. True disciples are discerning and trusting the grace of God so we are eager to be part of God’s soul saving work. Diligent disciples actively and intentionally love, serve, and share the gospel with others because we love to witness over and over again, the grace that saves us.

In the distribution of Christ’s garments to the four Roman soldiers we have an illustration of the truth that the gospel is to be preached to the four corners of the world… “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus gave His disciples a commission to share the gospel with the whole world… “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation’” (Mark 16:15). The soldiers were eager to receive a portion of the criminal’s clothing. Earnest disciples are even more eager to share the gospel with everyone we meet.

In the preservation of the wholeness of Christ’s tunic we have an illustration of the Lord’s desire for unity in His Church. Just as the tunic was seamlessly woven from the top down, unity in the Church originates in Christ, the Head of the Church. Jesus prayed that unity among His disciples would provoke faith in the world that was watching His Church… “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). The way we treat brothers and sisters should attract others to join His family, the Church.

In the casting of lots for Christ’s tunic we have an illustration of how God’s grace works in salvation. Though the gospel will be shared with the whole world, not everyone will receive the benefits of Christ’s saving work. Only those who believe the gospel’s truth and receive Christ by faith will be saved… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The Holy Spirit teaches plainly that faith is a gift of God, granted through His grace… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Just as no one knew which soldier would receive the tunic until after the casting of lots, so we do not know who will receive Christ as we share the gospel until after the working of God’s grace in their heart. We share the gospel because we love to see God’s saving grace in action.

As we grow up into Christ we eagerly share the gospel with the lost, that we may see more of…

The Grace that Saves Us.