Gambling for the Garments : Gain from Grief
|
Rev. L Simon Raomai
As we join the world in observing the Good Friday let us reflect ourselves on the final game of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ around the cross.
'And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get' (Mark 15:24). Of all the episodes in the drama of the cross, we tend to skip most quickly over this one. Its concreteness repels us : the rough, weathered wood of the upright post against his bleeding back; the iron nails tearing through flesh; the jarring of the body as the soldiers pull the ropes, heaving the cross piece up one notch at a time; death coming slowly by asphyxia, hunger, thirst; black carrion birds circling closer as the soldiers-on duty until death to prevent friends from rescuing the prisoner-throw dice to divide his garments. It is not an attractive picture, but for that very reason it may do us good to think for a moment about the soldiers gambling for the garments.
All four Evangelists record the episode, but John adds additional details and refers to the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecy in Psalm 22:18-When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.' This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, 'They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.' So this what the soldiers did (John 19:23, 24).
According to Roman custom the executioners could claim the possessions of the prisoner; thus after nailing Jesus to the crosspiece and hoisting him into position on the upright post, they settled down to divide his clothing while they waited for death. During the time of Jesus a Jew's clothing would have consisted of a headdress, shoes, a Linen undergarment or girdle, a coat or tunic which hung down below the knees, and an outer garment or cloak. After the soldiers had divided the headdress, shoes, girdle, and cloak among themselves, the coat remained. Most coats were cut out and sewer together, but the more valuable were made of woven wool all in one piece. Just such a seamless coat Jesus had, and the soldiers decided to draw lots for it rather than tearing it into four pieces. It was a practical move. After all, it was a good coat. With little more than the occasional glance at Jesus to see that everything was proceedings as it should, they occupied themselves with the business at hand-gambling, for his garments.
Crucifixion is one of the most cruel forms of execution. Used throughout the empire by Roman for its enemies, it was considered too cruel, hence not permissible, for a Roman citizen. While all capital punishment is cruel, the Jews used the death penalty sparingly and mitigated the suffering of their execution as much as pods. The typical Hebrew execution-death by stoning-happened after the prisoner had been thrown backwards from a cliff in order to break his back or stun him from the fall. Only then were stones to be thrown, and the first was to be aimed at the heart.
The condemned man was also given an obligatory hypnotic drink, made of incense or myrrh dissolved in wine or vinegar, to dull the pain. This was the 'sponge with wine and vinegar' (Mark 15:36) offered to Jesus but refused by him. While some did what they could to soften the suffering of Jesus on the cross, the Roman soldiers callously turned their backs on this most horrible of capital punishment and divided the garments with blatant insensitivity to the groans of pain within earshot. They were ready to make Gains from Grief even if the price was terrible suffering and pain. Such insensitivity has not been confined to Roman soldiers. Gain from Grief happenes in business and politics too. Throughout the the centuries of slavery, peasantry, child labour, union breaking, migrant workers, and international corporations trading in third world countries, the wealthy have gained from exploiting the labourer of the poor and down trodden people.' Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have condemned and murdered innocent men,who were opposing you (James 5:4)
How much money has been made at the cost of grief in workmen who have worked as slaves or at a wage not much better? How do we get our money? How are our investment handled? There are some Churches that are accepting black money or allowing to flow black money into its treasury through their members out of drug business and poppy plantations as well which is at the expense of others grief. Do we we gain from grief like the soldiers who gambled for the garments of Jesus Christ ? As the Roman soldiers got on with collecting the benefits from the crucified, they gave little notice to the cross.
They took the clothing of Jesus, but from himself they took nothing. They were satisfied with his physical possessions, but they ignored his principles. There are many people even so called Christians who collect what they can from Christ without any sense of what it cost or what its inner principle is. 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me' Jesus had said (Luke 9:23); yet denying the cross, so have taken up the trappings of Christianity without following Jesus.
Some have conformed for the Saji of an education. Now they have the fine clothes of learning and all that goes with it, but these gains are no better than the garments that the soldiers got and wore. Some have conformed for the cloaks of social esteem, for the sake of the company that they meet, for their fine wives, or for the gilt edge on their certificate of social responsibility. Others just like the comfort and the aura of credit and self-esteem gained from attending a service o cos week. Like the soldiers gambling for their garments, members of this clan collect clothes from the crucified, but ignored the cross.
The writer is the president of All Manipur Christian Organisation
As we join the world in observing the Good Friday let us reflect ourselves on the final game of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ around the cross.
'And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get' (Mark 15:24). Of all the episodes in the drama of the cross, we tend to skip most quickly over this one. Its concreteness repels us : the rough, weathered wood of the upright post against his bleeding back; the iron nails tearing through flesh; the jarring of the body as the soldiers pull the ropes, heaving the cross piece up one notch at a time; death coming slowly by asphyxia, hunger, thirst; black carrion birds circling closer as the soldiers-on duty until death to prevent friends from rescuing the prisoner-throw dice to divide his garments. It is not an attractive picture, but for that very reason it may do us good to think for a moment about the soldiers gambling for the garments.
All four Evangelists record the episode, but John adds additional details and refers to the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecy in Psalm 22:18-When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 'Let's not tear it,' they said to one another. 'Let's decide by lot who will get it.' This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, 'They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.' So this what the soldiers did (John 19:23, 24).
According to Roman custom the executioners could claim the possessions of the prisoner; thus after nailing Jesus to the crosspiece and hoisting him into position on the upright post, they settled down to divide his clothing while they waited for death. During the time of Jesus a Jew's clothing would have consisted of a headdress, shoes, a Linen undergarment or girdle, a coat or tunic which hung down below the knees, and an outer garment or cloak. After the soldiers had divided the headdress, shoes, girdle, and cloak among themselves, the coat remained. Most coats were cut out and sewer together, but the more valuable were made of woven wool all in one piece. Just such a seamless coat Jesus had, and the soldiers decided to draw lots for it rather than tearing it into four pieces. It was a practical move. After all, it was a good coat. With little more than the occasional glance at Jesus to see that everything was proceedings as it should, they occupied themselves with the business at hand-gambling, for his garments.
Crucifixion is one of the most cruel forms of execution. Used throughout the empire by Roman for its enemies, it was considered too cruel, hence not permissible, for a Roman citizen. While all capital punishment is cruel, the Jews used the death penalty sparingly and mitigated the suffering of their execution as much as pods. The typical Hebrew execution-death by stoning-happened after the prisoner had been thrown backwards from a cliff in order to break his back or stun him from the fall. Only then were stones to be thrown, and the first was to be aimed at the heart.
The condemned man was also given an obligatory hypnotic drink, made of incense or myrrh dissolved in wine or vinegar, to dull the pain. This was the 'sponge with wine and vinegar' (Mark 15:36) offered to Jesus but refused by him. While some did what they could to soften the suffering of Jesus on the cross, the Roman soldiers callously turned their backs on this most horrible of capital punishment and divided the garments with blatant insensitivity to the groans of pain within earshot. They were ready to make Gains from Grief even if the price was terrible suffering and pain. Such insensitivity has not been confined to Roman soldiers. Gain from Grief happenes in business and politics too. Throughout the the centuries of slavery, peasantry, child labour, union breaking, migrant workers, and international corporations trading in third world countries, the wealthy have gained from exploiting the labourer of the poor and down trodden people.' Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have condemned and murdered innocent men,who were opposing you (James 5:4)
How much money has been made at the cost of grief in workmen who have worked as slaves or at a wage not much better? How do we get our money? How are our investment handled? There are some Churches that are accepting black money or allowing to flow black money into its treasury through their members out of drug business and poppy plantations as well which is at the expense of others grief. Do we we gain from grief like the soldiers who gambled for the garments of Jesus Christ ? As the Roman soldiers got on with collecting the benefits from the crucified, they gave little notice to the cross.
They took the clothing of Jesus, but from himself they took nothing. They were satisfied with his physical possessions, but they ignored his principles. There are many people even so called Christians who collect what they can from Christ without any sense of what it cost or what its inner principle is. 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me' Jesus had said (Luke 9:23); yet denying the cross, so have taken up the trappings of Christianity without following Jesus.
Some have conformed for the Saji of an education. Now they have the fine clothes of learning and all that goes with it, but these gains are no better than the garments that the soldiers got and wore. Some have conformed for the cloaks of social esteem, for the sake of the company that they meet, for their fine wives, or for the gilt edge on their certificate of social responsibility. Others just like the comfort and the aura of credit and self-esteem gained from attending a service o cos week. Like the soldiers gambling for their garments, members of this clan collect clothes from the crucified, but ignored the cross.
The writer is the president of All Manipur Christian Organisation