The Garments of Christ

 1 2 THE GARMENTS OF CHRIST Look at Isaiah 40:22; 1John 1:5; John 1:9-11; Col 1:16- 17. Psalm 45:8 - “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have In Col 1:16 it says – “For by Him were all things made thee glad” – (Messianic Psalm – v6-7- Hebs 1:8-9) created” We want to look together at the Garments of Christ. So, if all things were created by Him then he must You will find the words, raiment, garment, apparel, have been before all things. And that is exactly what vestures, and robe in both the Old and New the Scriptures tell us in – Col 1:17 – “And He is before Testaments. Take a concordance and search them out all things.” for your self. He was there in the dateless, timeless past, as Psalm 1/- THE GARMENT OF DEITY 104 tells us. And was clothed with honour and majesty covering Himself with Light. That’s the Psalm 104:1-2 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul. garment of deity. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as 2/- THE GARMENT OF HUMANITY with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain” Luke 2:7 – “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a Here we look back before Bethlehem and the manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Incarnation. In the dateless, timeless past, in the un- calendared days of eternity. And He who voluntarily Luke 2:12 – “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall became man to be our Saviour, was robed in Light. find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Hymnwriter says, – “Immortal, invisible God only wise; In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most From the silence of light, robed in honour and glorious the Ancient of days, Almighty victorious thy majesty, the Son of the Father came forth to be Great Name we Praise” wrapped in swaddling bands as the firstborn son of a virgin Jewish maiden. “’Tis only the splendor of Light hideth thee” 3 4 This miracle of His conception should not be pried her child. But the Prophet had predicted Bethlehem in into. We are not asked to understand or explain it, but the land of Judea as the birthplace of the promised to believe it – As did Mary - Lk 1:38,45. Messiah, and so it must be – Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6. Sovereignty therefore arranged it so, and when the If that is hard for you to digest, then think of Sarah. child was born, all was in accord with the Prophetic She was not a virgin, but she was barren – Gen11:30 Word. and Abram and her were past the age of child bearing – Gen18:11-14, but the Angel said – “Nothing is 2/- Bethlehem is a divine blending of Simplicity impossible with God” – Gen 18:14, or we might say, - “Is How simplistic can you get. You have a baby, a anything too hard for the Lord.” manger bed, and swaddling clothes. That’s pretty simplistic. No Palace, no Royal welcome from earths If God can do this through a barren woman, what’s great leaders, and no Regal splendor. Just that “A the problem of Him doing it with a virgin woman? Child is born” – Isaiah 9:6. Mary brought him fort; Joseph stood by; Shepherds came to see the babe, and And it happened and thus was Isaiah 7:14 fulfilled – in these, the most humble of circumstances, there “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a began on the story of a life that was to bring virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his inestimable pleasure to the heart of God and man. name Immanuel.”- (God with us) – see Matthew 1:23. 3/- Bethlehem is a divine blending of Mystery Keep in mind Isaiah wrote 700 years before the child was born, but now it is fulfilled…..wow!! The Mystery of the incarnation is the wonder of God manifested in flesh. We bow in worship, as we The conception took place at Nazareth, but the birth acknowledge with the Apostle’s words in… took place at Bethlehem in Judea. Let me mention a few things about Bethlehem. 1Tim3:16- “Without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness, God was manifest in the flesh, seen of 1/- Bethlehem is a divine blending of Sovereignty Angels.” – How they must have looked upon Him whom they had known only in the unveiled splendor In the plan and purpose of God it was the decree of a of Deity, now become so approachable in a body of Caesar in Rome, which brought Joseph and Mary flesh and blood. It was indeed the beginning of a life from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was a long and of incomparable moral glory, to be lived in Galilee, hazardous journey, especially for a maiden carrying Judea, and Samaria. 5 6 Hymn-writer – “Veiled in the flesh the Godhead see, her, the one who is known as the Great Physician. hail the incarnate deity; pleased with man, with man And Jesus said, - “Somebody touched me? And His to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel” Disciples said, ‘Lord everyone is touching you in this crowd, He said, but someone has touched me in a special Yes, Bethlehem is a divine blending of Sovereignty, way for Power or virtue has gone out of me.” Simplicity, and Mystery of the one clothed in swaddling bands. And that day the woman was made whole. But she was not the only one who did this, we read in… 3/- THE GARMENT OF MERCY Mark 5:53-56 – “And whithersoever he entered, into Note 4 incidents that took place here in the Galilee. villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were 1/- Deep – Luke 8:23-25. but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him 2/- Demoniac – Luke 8:26-39 were made whole.” 3/- Disease (issue of blood) – Luke 8:43-48 4/- Death (Jairus’ Daughter) – Luke 8:40-42, 49-56 The word for “Border” in the text is the Gk word – “Kraspedon” – which can mean, LUKE 8:43-48 – “And a woman having an issue of blood hem/edge/border/tassel/fringe/ and it spoke of the Jewish twelve years, which had spent all her living upon garment called the - “Tallit prayer shawl” as in – physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind Numbers 15:38 – “And the Lord spake unto Moses, him, and touched the border of his garment: and saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that immediately her issue of blood stanched” – vv 43-44. they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the The woman had an issue of blood, but she was fringe of the borders a ribband of blue” determined to get to Jesus that she might touch even the hem of His garment. You will see the Jewish person with this garment wrapped around Him at the Western Wall as he locks She sharpened her elbows and made sure she got to himself out from the world around him and focus’ on Him. For 12 years she was under this burdened, and His worship of God. The Tallit means “a little tent”, or visited Doctor after Doctor but none could help her. a “little tabernacle.” The idea maybe that which Jesus And also, she had spent all she on them and was none referred to as ones “Prayer Closet.” It’s that quiet place the better. But now she comes to the one who can heal where you get alone with God and worship Him. 7 8 This is maybe what Matthew and Luke in their And he had every right to say that because he had accounts are referring to that Jesus may have been seen the Lord’s face shining like the Sun and His wearing. (This is not conclusive, but many Scholars raiment was white like the light. mention it in their commentaries). But don’t miss the point, the woman touched the hem of His garment This transformation did not happen from the outside and that day was shown mercy and was wonderfully in…no, no, it happened from the inside out. What healed, not by the tallit but by Jesus. they were witnessing, was in some measure the brightness of His glory, that which emanated from We can apply this Spiritually to many and a man and within. They saw His Majesty and what it will be like a woman who need healing spiritually from their when He comes in Power and Great Glory. So He give sins….and they have been carrying the burden of them a pre-view, or a glimpse of His Coming Power them all their life. Let me tell you. Like this woman, and Glory…..wow!! you too can be made whole. And there is only one Physician that can do that for you, His name is Jesus. Mark 9:3 says – “And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white 4/- THE GARMENT TO MAJESTY them.” Matthew 17:1-8 – “And was transfigured before them: and Luke 9:29 says, - “And as he prayed, the fashion of his his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and the light”- v2 glistering.” 2Peter 1:16-18 – “For we have not followed cunningly If you will note also Peter and Mark call it a High devised fables, when we made known unto you the power Mount – Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2. and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty”- v16. Then Peter in 2Peter 1:16-18 calls it a Holy Mount. Some say it was Mount Tabor and others say it was Peter called it the Mount of transfiguration, the holy Mount Hermon. Whatever Mountain it was, He was mount, and he says they were eyewitnesses of His transfigured before them and they were eyewitnesses “Majesty.” of His Majesty. His raiment was white and glistening, white as snow, white as the light. 5/- THE GARMENT OF MOCKERY 9 10 Pilate said, - “Behold your King” – John 19:14. them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will Matthew 27:28-37 – “And they stripped him, and put on stain all my raiment” – See also – Revelation 19:11-21. him a scarlet robe – v28. You find many Churches read this passage during the And they mocked Him in mock Royalty – v29;31;41. Passion Week, but that is the most unlikely Scriptural portion to read at Easter. It would be better to read Kings have Crowns, a Diadem, but they gave Him a Isaiah 53 or Psalm 22 on that occasion but not Isaiah Crown of Thorns. 63. “Why?” – Well the Prophet in Isaiah 63 is looking forward to the future, not the past. Kings have Sceptres denoting power and authority, but to Him they gave a Reed. He is looking to the time of the Tribulation Kings have Thrones and to Him they gave a Cross. He is looking for the time of the Anti-Christ He is looking to the time of the enemies of the Lord Kings are to be bowed to, and they bowed the knee He is looking to the time of the last rebellion and hailed Him King of the Jews in Mock Royalty. He is looking to the time of the Second Advent. But all that is over; it is in the past. Man will never lay This is not a picture of what our Lord accomplished in hands on Him again, and that is seen in the next His First Coming. It is a picture of what He will garment. He will be coming in the future not as a accomplish at His Second Coming. mocked King, but as the King of Kings and then He will wear….. In His First Advent He came to die. In His Second Advent He comes as the Undertaker for 6/- THE GARMENT OF VICTORY the Nations. Isaiah 63:1-3 – “Who is this that cometh from Edom, In His First Advent it is He who suffers. with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in In His Second Advent it is the Nations who suffer. his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art And while He is stained with blood in both of these thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that Advents, keep in mind….. treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread 11 12 In His First Advent it is His own blood that stains His “Why?” Because that was not fulfilled at Our Lord’s body. First Coming, it will be fulfilled at Our Lord’s Second Coming. At that time He will execute Judgment on In His Second Advent it is the blood of the Nations the Gentile powers, but He is also coming to redeem that stains His garments. His people Israel – “And the year of my redeemed has come” – Isaiah 63:4. In the context of Isaiah 63, it is a picture of Our Lord There is a Perceived Problem with Isaiah 63 if you Jesus at His Second Coming, when He exercises His take the other Scriptures that mention His Second final destruction on Gentile powers. Coming. Let me explain. So these verses portray in graphic symbolism, the Zechariah predicts that the Coming King will set His awfulness of the destruction of the enemies of David’s feet upon the Mount of Olives – Zech 14:4. Greater Son, the Messiah, the heir to the Throne, the Rev16:16 - identifies the battlefield as being heir to the Land, and the heir to the world. And one of Armageddon. these days He will open the Seals and claim what is rightfully His prior to the setting up of His Millennial And here in Isaiah 63 the Victorious King is returning Kingdom. form a place called Edom/Bozrah.Divine Intervention Isaiah 63:4 – “For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, The Apparent Difficulty and the year of my redeemed is come” The Apparent Difficulty is that Armageddon is North If you link that verse 4a which is associated with the in Galilee. Edom is in the South below Israel’s word “vengeance” and go to Isaiah 61:2, you will find Southern border at the foot of the Dead Sea, with the same word used, but note the difference. Bozrah as its Capital City. The Olivet lies between, in Judea on the east of Jerusalem. Jesus stood up in the Synagogue at Nazareth for to read – Luke 4:16-21 and in doing so He quoted from Question: - “To where then will the King come?” Isaiah 61:1-2a, then He stopped at v2a which says, - “Where will the final battle be fought?” “Where “To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” then He exactly will His enemies be destroyed?” closed the Book and sat down. Then He stated, - “This There is of course no discrepancy. It may well be that day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” but He did not the King will come initially to the Mount of Olives, quote –v2b – “And the day of vengeance of Our God.” but His enemies are not confined to this one area. By 13 14 Divine Intervention the armies of those who oppose need to be removed and be replaced with the “best Him will be gathered also at Megiddo and there will robe” of Christ’s righteousness placed upon you – be crushed. Some perhaps will flee, but will be Luke 15:22. pursued to Edom/Bozrah, so that for the whole length of the Land, the King will travel in triumph from This is strikingly set forth in Zechariah 3:3-4 – “Now Megiddo, through Olivet to Edom. The Land will Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before flow with the blood of the King’s enemies, and that the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood will be as – Rev 14:19 says – “...the great winepress of the before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from wrath of God” him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with The Illustration is seen in the Wine Press where the change of raiment.” harvested grapes are trampled which would leave stains on the garments of those who tread them. It is because of this that the Believer sings – “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my In the same way our Lord’s Garments will be stained God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, with the blood of His enemies as He executes His he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a vengeance on them and treads the winepress of the bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. These then are adorneth herself with her jewels.” – Isaiah 61:10 the Conquerors Garments of Victory. Of old it was said, - “Let thy priests be clothed with He is now exchanging – “The Scarlet Robe of righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy…..I will also Mockery” at His First Coming for - “The Royal Robes clothe her priests with salvation” – Psalm 132:9,16 of Victory” at His Second Coming. The answer to this is given in the New Testament, Then He will Reign Supreme. where we are told that God has made Christ to be – “unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, Application – Speaking about garments. Do you want and redemption” – 1Cor 1:30; and again, - “For He hath to be saved? Do you want to go to heaven? Then you made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might need the right garment on to go there. The present be the righteousness of god in Him” – 2Cor 5:21. garment you are wearing will not get you there. You need a change of raiment because, - “All our Dear Friend make sure you have the proper garment righteousnesses are as filthy rags” – Isaiah 64:6. They on THE GARMENTS OF CHRIST 1/- THE GARMENT OF DEITY 2/- THE GARMENT OF HUMANITY 3/- THE GARMENT OF MERCY 4/- THE GARMENT TO MAJESTY 5/- THE GARMENT OF MOCKERY 6/- THE GARMENT OF VICTORY