[Editor’s NOTE: In Anno Domini 2024, the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord, celebrated on the 25th of March, takes place next week. In his BFP, however, Laache places Annunciation Day on the Fifth Sunday in Lent.]
158. Monday after Annunciation Day.
Lord, teach me to know the shame of my nakedness,
and put on me the dearly bought robe of righteousness. Amen.
John 19, 23. 24. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
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They strip the Lord of his garments; the Son of God is to hang naked on the cross, and thus atone for the world’s vanity and passion for all sorts of finery, and buy for us the robe of righteousness. — When parting his garments among them, and casting lots for his coat, the soldiers again unwittingly fulfill the decree of God and the words of the prophets. How could David, a thousand years in advance, know this and write it down in the Twenty-second Psalm, as accurately in all its details as though he had been present and seen it? Or were the soldiers acquainted with the scriptures, and did they do this thing with the purpose of fulfilling the prophecy? Not so; but God wants to help us to believe. If we knew and understood the scriptures well, the conviction that they are true would force itself upon us; for the Old Testament contains the New; human wisdom could by no possibility have written these things. None save the Spirit of God knew what would come to pass after thousands of years.
The coat without seam, woven from the top throughout, which could not be taken apart, and which God did not permit the soldiers to rend, reminds us of the seamless wedding garment of righteousness, which Christ gives to his believers, and which he bought for us when he divested himself of his glory and died for us on the cross in nakedness and disgrace. That garment cannot be parted. If you have the righteousness of Christ, you have it complete; not a part of it, but the whole garment. In other words, if you truly believe in our Lord Jesus, you are entirely justified before God, all your sins are forgiven you, he shelters you completely, there is no condemnation whatever for you; you may of a certainty be sure of everlasting life. The sin that you have, and the sin that you commit; your former transgressions, and your daily weaknesses; the disobedience of which you are aware, and your secret faults; — for all these Jesus has atoned, and all that he did and suffered has been given to you in your baptism; if you believe, all is yours. That which the law requires you to love and practice, perfect obedience and perfect holiness, has been done by him in your stead; and what he has done for you is set down to your credit; in this wise you have put on Christ when you were baptized into him. Blessed are you, if you believe; for in that case you have the wedding garment; the shame of your nakedness is taken away. Christ was lifted up naked onto the cross; you shall be lifted up to the seat of honor clothed with the robe of salvation.
We bless thee, Lord Jesus, for all that thou didst do and suffer for us, though as yet we understand but little thereof. Give us more and more of the light of the Spirit; make clear to our souls the significance of thy holy passion; and help us to believe with single hearts, in order that we may stand before thee clothed in thy righteousness, and praise thee forevermore. Amen.
O Lamb of God most holy!
Who on the cross didst languish,
E’er patient, meek, and lowly,
Though mocked amid thine anguish;
Our sins thou bearest for us,
Else would despair reign o’er us;
Have mercy on us, O Jesus!
O Lamb of God most holy! etc.
Have mercy on us, O Jesus!
O Lamb of God most holy! etc.
Thy peace be with us, O Jesus!