Called to Be Separate

What did Jesus wear? For our sakes, He left behind His royal robes in heaven, and chose to wear “a plain, seamless coat.” “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2.

Very different were the scribes and Pharisees. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.” Matthew 23:5. Jesus did not adorn His appearance. He did not use clothes to draw attention to Himself. Rather, because His outward appearance was so plain, so free from the externals which the Pharisees loved to wear, the beauty of His character shone forth all the clearer.

            Jesus reveals that, like Him, His true people will be clothed with God’s righteousness. Revelation describes God’s church as “a woman clothed with the sun.” Revelation 12:1. “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8. This fine linen needs no adornment, for it shines as the sun. Its wearers, like their Master, will shun the world’s cheap attempts at beautifying, for they will have no need of them.

            What else did Jesus wear? For us, He wore a crown of thorns. Yet today, many of those who say they follow Him forget how the thorns must have felt, as they spend time selecting clothing to attract attention, and as they curl, style, and decorate their hair. How must Jesus feel when His great sacrifice is so little esteemed?

            “I would remind the youth who ornament their persons and wear feathers upon their hats that, because of their sins, our Saviour's head wore the shameful crown of thorns. When you devote precious time to trimming your apparel, remember that the King of glory wore a plain, seamless coat. You who weary yourselves in decorating your persons, please bear in mind that Jesus was often weary from incessant toil and self-denial and self-sacrifice to bless the suffering and needy…. It was on our account that He poured out His prayers to His Father with strong cries and tears. It was to save us from the very pride and love of vanity and pleasure which we now indulge, and which crowds out the love of Jesus, that those tears were shed and that our Saviour's visage was marred with sorrow and anguish more than any of the sons of men.”  3T 379, 380.

            Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us through a most painful death. He wore a crown of thorns for us. If He, through His inspired messengers, should ask us to wear what is pleasing to Him, can we refuse?

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