STATIONS OF THE CROSS - EASTER PLANعينة

JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHES One can only imagine the personal and intimate humiliation of being stripped of one's clothing in front of a crowd. The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John reference the scripture-fulfilling significance of what the soldiers did with Jesus' clothes. The Roman soldiers cast lots for them after they nailed Jesus to the cross. Jesus' public stripping of his clothes in preparation for His crucifixion surely left him feeling dehumanized and cast out of society. His beaten body was on full display, bearing not only our sin but also our shame. Like Adam and Eve and the first sin, we have all sinned and felt the exposed "nakedness" of our actions. Let us be thankful that Jesus bore our sins and our nakedness on the cross. Let us come to the cross and repent. The cross sets us free; Jesus sets us free from eternal death and separation from God. We are clothed in God's righteousness.