In the Eye of the Beholder: Mark 15:21-24

During Jesus’ crucifixion, I am fascinated at the detail Mark shares that Jesus’ clothes were divided up among the soldiers and they threw lots to determine who would get what. Mark specifically tells us: “The soldiers crucified Jesus and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing lots to decide what each soldier would get.” (v. 24)

This stands out in my mind because even 1 year later, Jesus’ clothing would have been incredibly valuable for sentimental reasons, and no later than two centuries later, it would have likely been preserved by the early church.

Now about twenty centuries later, Jesus’ clothing might be the most valuable religious object to exchange hands in a transaction. If one could verify that the garment was really Jesus’, then the dusty old robe would be worth millions – maybe even billions.

But the robe was gambled for and won by a soldier who probably sold it off for next to nothing at the market. In the soldier’s eyes, this garment was nothing more than a robe of a convicted felon, even if this felon was rumored to have risen from the dead just a few days after His death.

This illustration goes to show how value is very subjective to those making deals. What for us living today to be virtually priceless, those who had it in the first century didn’t place much value on it.

The same could be said for our relationship with God and our spiritual growth. If we minimize or don’t value it, it will have almost no impact on our lives. But if we value it, focus on it, nurture it, and want it to grow, then our relationship with God will transform our life – and we will truly become the person God created us to be!