Text: Matthew 27:27-50
Today is commonly called “Good Friday”. It is good because it is the day that Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for His people’s sin.
Christ’s anguish brought us peace with God. However, before that was accomplished, He was humiliated. The Scripture does not say it explicitly,
but Jesus would have been stripped completely naked. Nudity is a curse brought by Adam and Eve. When they sinned and realized they were
naked, not nakedness before sin (innocence), but nakedness after sin (exposed guilt), they tried to cover themselves – they knew they were
guilty. Jesus was naked on the cross as a symbol of the curse that was put upon Him.
There is much that can be said about nakedness, how it is good in marriage, birth, etc. but in most cases, nakedness is a wrong thing. But
our concern today is about humility. In humility, Jesus Christ willingly suffered shameful humiliation so that we can stand before God clothed
by Jesus’ righteousness. God knows your nakedness, shame, and guilt, so do not bother hiding. You do not have to remove your clothing for
prayer, but you must humble yourself before God, confess your sins of which you are guilty, beg His forgiveness, and by His grace, live before
Him in humility of heart and life. The Lord is everything, and you are nothing apart from Him. Humility keeps that in mind.
Meditate on verse 28. What is God teaching you in this verse?
Gracious Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. He was put to shame for me to gain
righteousness! Amen.