Clothed in the Garment of Heaven
Revelation 3:17, Jesus said, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” Paraphrased, (You’re not rich, but wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.)
“I (Jesus) counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and you may be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;”
Jesus had spoken; riches, fame, power, authority, and good intentions here on earth are not qualifications for everlasting life.
Let’s compare the following with the above. Jesus is being led away by those who had arrested him in the garden, verse 50, “And they (Jesus disciples) forsook him, and fled.” At this critical moment, the disciples of Christ fled for fear had overcome them, and trust in the Lord was forsaken. Then we read,
Mark 14:51, “There followed Him (Jesus) a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him (Jesus.)”
Verse 52, “And he (the young man) left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.”
The man came to Jesus as he was being led off by the guards. The guard grabs hold of the man by his outer garment. The man flees leaving his linen garment behind. Who was this young man who ran away? Did he know the Lord? What was his status among the Jews? Why did he approach Jesus when He was being led away? And why did he run?
Our first clues may be found in the previous passage mentioned, Matthew 19 and Luke 18. It may have been the same ruler spoken of in Matthew, and the linen cloth he wore was an outward show of his wealth and status. A second clue is in the linen cloth that the man was wearing. This article of clothing was referred to as a “habit.” It is often referred to in scriptures and is still worn to this day. In the Lord’s Day, it was an outward display of wealth.
The word “naked” or “nakedness,” signifies the rich man was put to shame, and stripped of resources. In Genesis, we read of Adam and Eve becoming aware of their nakedness after they had sinned, so they covered themselves with leaves, and the young man likewise covered himself with a linen cloth.
Exodus 32:25, After the Jews had worshipped the Golden Calf, “Moses saw that the people were naked; for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies.” The Jews had been exposed to the sin of idol worship.
Job 26:6, “Hell is naked before (God).” This is a reference to the unseen state of the dead. Sinners, and all of their sins, are exposed to the eyes of God. This description best fits the man and his condition, Jesus saw his condition.
The man runs up to the Lord, is stripped naked, and then runs off leaving his garment behind. This shows him to be a slave to sin, a man governed by the law. Lot’s wife looked back on Sodom, desiring all that she had left behind; so also, this man, running back to the world he had just come from. His first love was his position in society, his authority, and his wealth; the things he loved most. He calls Jesus, “Good Master,” not for the love he had for him, but for what he thought he could gain.
In our sinful state, we have an unreasonable conceit of our superiority in knowledge and understanding, in finances, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank, or business. This manifests itself into a greater-than-thou attitude, distancing ourselves from both neighbor and God. Then one develops an attitude of contempt; insolence and rudeness, these becoming the greater part of their personalities.
Zechariah 3:3-4, “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment (rich robes) … and clothed him with garments.”
Matthew 27:59, Joseph took Jesus down from the cross and wrapped His body in a clean linen cloth.
John 20:6 tells us that the linen cloth Joseph wrapped about the body of Jesus, now lay on the empty stone where the Lord had been. Here is where we can fully understand that that which the best of men own is not worthy of the risen Christ. The linen cloth was from Joseph, a rich man, being of a fine quality, clean, and likely never used. Yet it was rejected, for it lay folded on the tombstone. Next, we read in Mark and Luke, how the Lord when seen again, clothed in glory.
Mark 16 tells us that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James entered the empty tomb and saw a young man sitting on the right side of the stone, clothed in long, white garments. Luke 24:4, further explains, That the two women saw two men standing in shining garments, the garments of heaven.
Revelation 16:15, Jesus said, “Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
The Jews set themselves against God. This young man who ran from the Lord was stripped naked. He is an anti-type. Our pride leads to destruction. This man realized his shame and ran. Christians need to be less like the man who ran away, and more like the woman that had an issue (flow) of blood. In a great crowd, she boldly touched the Lord’s garment, and power flowed from the Lord, healing her. Why! Because of her faith in the saving power of Christ Jesus.
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