Scripture Reference: John 19:16-27

Wednesday Fasting: While Jesus was on the cross, the soldiers who “had crucified [him] took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be’”. Jesus hung on the cross naked. Jesus was an innocent man who was being treated like a common criminal of his day. He was beaten, mocked, nailed to a cross, and now he was stripped of his clothes, leaving him completely humiliated before all who were watching. The religious and political powers did whatever they could do to subdue this man. Their fear of losing even an inch of their authority led them to murder a man in whom even Pilate found no fault (cf. Jn. 19:6).

Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, as he hung naked, beaten and bloody on that cross, identified himself with with all who have ever been mocked, shamed, humiliated, oppressed, marginalized, taken advantage of. He associated with the downtrodden of society, criminals, orphans, widows, the neglected, the abused. And he did this because of his love for his creation, and it was through this act of humiliation that he would ultimately reverse every single one of those things. The sinners and the sinned against will finally have a pathway home. And the glory of this story is that we were numbered among them, and now, by faith, we have begun our journey home. Take some time this morning to fast and pray for specific people in your life that might fall into one of those categories. If you fall into one of those categories, remember that “we have a great High Priest...not one who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:14, 15). Know that he has taken your shame, and he can and will make you whole and beautiful.