Clothed in the Garments of Heaven

[placebofactor]

Revelation 3:17, Jesus said, "Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;" Paraphrased, (You’re not rich, but wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.)

"I (Jesus) counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and you may be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;"

Jesus had spoken; riches, fame, power, authority, and good intentions here on earth are not qualifications for everlasting life.

Let’s compare the following with the above. Jesus is being led away by those who had arrested him in the garden, verse 50, “And they (Jesus disciples) forsook him, and fled.” At this critical moment, the disciples of Christ fled for fear had overcome them, and trust in the Lord was forsaken. Then we read,

Mark 14:51, "There followed Him (Jesus) a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him (Jesus.)”

Verse 52, "And he (the young man) left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked."

The man came to Jesus as he was being led off by the guards. The guard grabs hold of the man by his outer garment. The man flees leaving his linen garment behind. Who was this young man who ran away? Did he know the Lord? What was his status among the Jews? Why did he approach Jesus when He was being led away? And why did he run?

Our first clues may be found in the previous passage mentioned, Matthew 19 and Luke 18. It may have been the same ruler spoken of in Matthew, and the linen cloth he wore was an outward show of his wealth and status. A second clue is in the linen cloth that the man was wearing. This article of clothing was referred to as a "habit." It is often referred to in scriptures and is still worn to this day. In the Lord's Day, it was an outward display of wealth.

The word "naked" or "nakedness," signifies the rich man was put to shame, and stripped of resources. In Genesis, we read of Adam and Eve becoming aware of their nakedness after they had sinned, so they covered themselves with leaves, and the young man likewise covered himself with a linen cloth.

Exodus 32:25, After the Jews had worshipped the Golden Calf, "Moses saw that the people were naked; for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies." The Jews had been exposed to the sin of idol worship.

Job 26:6, "Hell is naked before (God)." This is a reference to the unseen state of the dead. Sinners, and all of their sins, are exposed to the eyes of God. This description best fits the man and his condition, Jesus saw his condition.

The man runs up to the Lord, is stripped naked, and then runs off leaving his garment behind. This shows him to be a slave to sin, a man governed by the law. Lot's wife looked back on Sodom, desiring all that she had left behind; so also, this man, running back to the world he had just come from. His first love was his position in society, his authority, and his wealth; the things he loved most. He calls Jesus, "Good Master," not for the love he had for him, but for what he thought he could gain.

In our sinful state, we have an unreasonable conceit of our superiority in knowledge and understanding, in finances, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank, or business. This manifests itself into a greater-than-thou attitude, distancing ourselves from both neighbor and God. Then one develops an attitude of contempt; insolence and rudeness, these becoming the greater part of their personalities.

Zechariah 3:3-4, "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment (rich robes) ... and clothed him with garments."

Matthew 27:59, Joseph took Jesus down from the cross and wrapped His body in a clean linen cloth.

John 20:6 tells us that the linen cloth Joseph wrapped about the body of Jesus, now lay on the empty stone where the Lord had been. Here is where we can fully understand that that which the best of men own is not worthy of the risen Christ. The linen cloth was from Joseph, a rich man, being of a fine quality, clean, and likely never used. Yet it was rejected, for it lay folded on the tombstone. Next, we read in Mark and Luke, how the Lord when seen again, clothed in glory.

Mark 16 tells us that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James entered the empty tomb and saw a young man sitting on the right side of the stone, clothed in long, white garments. Luke 24:4, further explains, That the two women saw two men standing in shining garments, the garments of heaven.

Revelation 16:15, Jesus said, "Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”

The Jews set themselves against God. This young man who ran from the Lord was stripped naked. He is an anti-type. Our pride leads to destruction. This man realized his shame and ran. Christians need to be less like the man who ran away, and more like the woman that had an issue (flow) of blood. In a great crowd, she boldly touched the Lord's garment, and power flowed from the Lord, healing her. Why! Because of her faith in the saving power of Christ Jesus.

[placebofactor]

Robes of the ancients:

The Jews were forbidden by law to wear any garment made of a mix of wool and linen, only this combination was forbidden, all others accepted. A loose-fitting garment like a robe or cloak was called a mantle. It was worn for both warmth and appearance and was made in two varieties: the me-il and the Simlah

The Me-il was a long, loose-sleeved robe worn by men of official positions, ministers, educators, and the wealthy. It was a robe of the professions, a dress of dignity, culture, and distinction. The ‘Simlah’ one an Arab shepherd or peasant would be wearing. It was worn in the day and wrapped around the owner at night for warmth. These robes were never to be taken as a pledge unless returned to the owner by sundown.

The garments of the ancient Middle East were fabricated from various materials. Wool was generally used for finer fabrics, but the hair of goats, camels, and horsehair was used to manufacture coarser garments. Sackcloth was manufactured from black goat's hair. This robe was a course garment made for the purpose of showing grief, as in the loss of a loved one.

In Egypt and Syria, they wore robes made of fine linen, cotton, and byssus, which was probably a fine muslin from India. This is the finest cloth known in the ancient world. Citizens of distinction could be seen wearing robes woven of silk, and other rich cloth. When made, they are shaded with the choicest colors, decorated by feathered work, and embroidered with gold.

White garments were the most common. These robes were not dyed but remained the native color of the natural wool. White was not confined to the lower order of the population but was held in great esteem among those of superior positions, and highly valued in Scripture as the emblem of knowledge, purity, gladness, victory, grace, and glory. The priests of the god Baal wore black. But the people of these pagan populations would choose not to wear black except in mourning.

Was there a significance in the various colors of robes? Scarlet robes were bright red. This color would be seen in Jewish nobles and courtiers. Courtiers were those who attended the courts of princes. These scarlet-colored robes were worn for both the greater and more solemn occasions. They were dyed with a shrub whose red berries gave the robe a bright oriented tinge to the cloth.

Then we have the crimson or vermilion, a deep red color. These robes were mainly dyed in the city of Tyre. The color was attained from the liquid of a shellfish found in the sea or obtained from certain insects.
The children of noble and wealthy families wore robes of many colors, they being a mark of distinction. The story of these multi-colored robes can be traced back to Joseph, who was arrayed by his father in a coat of many colors.

Also, these robes were reserved for the king’s daughters who were virgins. Tamar, the virgin daughter of David wore a garment of many colors, 2 Samuel 13:19. After she had been raped by her brother Amnon, “Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent (tore) her garment of divers (many) colors that were on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying,”

Genesis 37:3, "Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors." For the favor shown to Joseph, his brothers went into a jealous rage, now hating Joseph. So, they plotted to kill him. They would throw Joseph into a pit, but Judah eventually convinced his brothers to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites, the sons of Ishmael. To cover their crime, and to deceive their father, they killed a “kid of a goat,” dipped the coat in its blood, and sent the coat back to their father Jacob, claiming an “evil beast had devoured him.” Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days.”

[placebofactor]

[Replying to placebofactor in post #2]

The robes Jesus wore:
Robe 1,
We can read about the first robe Jesus wore in John 13:1. Jesus knew that the hour of his departure had come. When He sat at bread with His disciples, He removed his outer garments, took a towel, and girded himself.
Having removed his robe, Jesus took on the dress of a servant. He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Jesus then wiped their feet with a towel, this was the towel He had girded himself with. After he had washed their feet, he took his garments and put them on.

Robe # 2.
Luke 23:10-11, "The chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him (Jesus.) And Herod with his men of war set him at naught, (treated Jesus with contempt) and mocked him, and arrayed (dressed) him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate." This "gorgeous robe" was a radiant, white robe.

Robe #3.
Matthew 27:28, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, (governor's headquarters) and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe." Verse 31, "And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe from him, and put his own (clothes) on him."

Robe #4.
John 19:1, "Pilate, therefore took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers platted (twisted) a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote (struck) him with their hands."

Mocked, scourged, and murdered by deceitful men because of their jealous rage. Four robes covered in our Savior's sweat and blood, all for the love of his own.