Do you remember Lydia, the lady who sold the beautiful purple cloth in Bible times? We told you that the purple dye was very expensive, because it was made from ground-up shells of sea snails. Purple robes were so beautiful and so costly that only kings were able to wear them. The color was called “royal purple.”
There was a baby born long ago in a stable in Bethlehem. He was the son of a virgin mother who was of the royal line of King David, so He had every right to wear the royal purple. He was also legally the son of Joseph who was also of the royal line of David. Joseph’s lineage could be traced back through all the kings of Judah to King David.
“Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:22Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Matthew 2:2)), asked the wise men from the East. This was good news for Jerusalem, but the city was troubled. Many probably thought that their king should be a great and mighty king, sitting on a royal throne and scattering their enemies. Instead, God had given them a baby. They wanted their own choice for a king, not God’s.
God’s wisdom is perfect, and absolutely nothing can change His perfect plan. The priests who read the Old Testament knew that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, but they did not come to worship Him.
This newborn baby named Jesus was the Son of God. He lived His boyhood in Nazareth until He was thirty years old. Then He began to preach the kingdom of God and to work miracles that no one else could do. They were miracles of kindness and love. Sometimes they were for just one person and sometimes for thousands of people. But even though He was hungry and thirsty and weary, He never did one thing to please Himself.
Jesus chose twelve apostles to be with Him and whom He might send out to preach. He knew the heart of each of these men, and He knew that one heart was not loyal to Him. There were eleven who loved Him and one who loved money.
What does God see in your heart? If He were right here today, would being loyal to Him spoil your life? Maybe you don’t understand Him, and certainly the apostles didn’t, but they followed Him anyway.
The chief priests and rulers of the people hated Jesus, and in the dark one night they captured Him in the garden of Gethsemane. Their hatred of Him was more important to them than sleep.
Early the next morning a crowd had gathered, shouting against Jesus. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and placed it on His head and put on Him a robe of royal purple and brought Him to the governor Pilate. Pilate brought Him before the crowd of people saying, “Behold your King!” (John 19:1414And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14)).
“Away with Him, crucify Him” (John 19:1515But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. (John 19:15)), they shouted. They took off the royal purple robe, and they spit in His face and struck His head with a rod. They nailed His hands and feet to a wooden cross. God saw all this and remained silent.
At noon, it became totally dark—no stars, no moon, only complete darkness. In that deep darkness, Jesus took upon Himself all the punishment for my sins that I deserved in hell forever. God did not comfort Him. His total aloneness was something that we Christians will never understand. He could have come down from the cross, but His deep love for you and me held Him to that cross for three hours ... until He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)). Then He gave up His life and died.
He took the punishment for your sins, if you will come to Him, admitting that you are a sinner and accepting Him as your Saviour. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree [cross]” (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). But what if you will not come? You will bear the punishment for your own sins forever in that terrible place called hell.
Jesus will not wear the royal purple robe again. His glory will be far, far greater than any color on earth could proclaim. If you are His, you are His forever, and He will not allow one of His own to perish.
Do you belong to Him now and forever?
ML-07/28/2013