Scripture to Read: John 19:23–25
The soldiers played a vital role in fulfilling prophecies about our Lord Jesus Christ. God had John record this in John 19:23–25: “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.” We find this prophecy in Psalm 22:18: “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” This is so important because Jesus is the only one who fulfilled almost every prophecy in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah. The only prophecies yet to be fulfilled are the ones that foretell the second coming of Christ. This scripture also lets us see how hard-hearted the soldiers were and that they had no clue they were crucifying the God who had created them. Last, we see that Jesus was willing to let go of everything, including the clothes on His back, so that we could become rich through Him: 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” May we never forget the complete sacrifice our Lord made for us.
Challenge & Application
• What did God teach you today about the prophecies that Christ fulfilled, and why is this important?
• What all did Jesus sacrifice for us, and how are you sacrificing for Him each day to live for Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!