New Clothes…
This past weekend I went on a quick shopping trip to track down a new shirt for Easter. We’re trying to do the matching thing with the family so we can get that all-important Easter pic where we are all dressed in our bright spring colors. So, as I was walking through the store in search of the right shirt for the right price, I was thinking about this idea of new clothes. It seems that almost every Easter I get a new shirt, Jada finds a new dress, the girls get new matching dresses, and Leif get’s a new shirt to coordinate. I remember doing this growing up as well. Why? In part because that’s just what you do. You get something new to wear for Easter.
But, as I was mulling over this, God prompted my heart to remember the spiritual parallel of this habit. You see, as believers in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that we will celebrate, we have been given “new clothes.” In the Garden of Eden, we see sin stripping humanity naked as it reveals our ugly prideful rebellion. Adam and Eve were driven to clothe themselves because of the guilt and shame that entered their minds and hearts.
However, God in his loving mercy provides clothes to cover them physically. More importantly, this moment of provision points to a greater provision. Not one of physical clothing, but of spiritual. The animal skins covered the outside, but could not cover the gaping new wound on the inside. Only God could remedy this ugly reality. Like a fashion designer from What Not to Wear, God declares that those clothes would not do. They were insufficient. Temporary.
Humanity would try to fix the problem. Covering our lives with the stylish threads of good works. But like a bad outfit gone wrong, the man-made clothing was not remotely appropriate. Actually, despite all the hard work nothing more than filthy rags. Only God could step in and send a legit covering. And that’s what He did. Jesus covers us. These “new clothes” are comprised of the righteous works of Christ through his blood shed on the cross. Isaiah 61 says it this way,
10 I delight greatly in the LORD ;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
So, this Easter as we slip on that new piece of clothing we picked up at the store, may we ultimately worship more fully as we consider the righteous clothing we received at the Cross! Happy Easter Week To All! He Is Alive!
NICKSHOCK.US 