A Seamless Tunic

Growing up with a mom who is a seamstress, you inadvertently absorb some of their processes; well at least I did. I was always amazed at how skeins of fabric, combined with thread, notions, scissors, and sweat equity could produce a finished garment. If my mom was making a dress, she always started with a pattern. The pattern jacket displayed the finished product and the inside contained detailed instructions with pattern pieces. I also remember her spreading the fabric on the table, laying and pinning the pattern pieces on the fabric, and cutting them out. Then the magic happened.

She followed those directions from the pattern, connecting piece A with piece B until she had a dress, a shirt, a skirt or a suit.

So when I saw that Jesus wore a seamless tunic that was never ripped (John 19:23,24), my pseudo-seamstress brain attempted to figure out the significance. This tunic was probably a large piece of fabric, perhaps linen, with an opening at the neck and sleeves. Perhaps it had an unfinished hem. There's an artistry in making this type of garment. Perhaps it wasn't made at all by human hands - He just took a piece of fabric and started wearing it as an overcoat.

Jewish tradition called for a mother to make such a robe and present it to her son as a departure gift when he left home. Had Mary done this for Jesus? Where did she learn to do this? We don’t know. But we know the tunic was without seams, woven from top to bottom.

John thought it was worth mentioning that it was seamless and I wondered about its significance. Also his is the only gospel that mentioned this garment. Research revealed the following information. 

Jesus' seamless robe can have multiple symbolic meanings, including: 

Unity of the Church - The tunic's seamlessness symbolizes the unity of the Church, as tearing a garment was a sign of disunity in the Bible. 

Jesus' priesthood - The tunic symbolizes Jesus' priesthood and the transfiguration of the Levitical priesthood. 

Jesus' character - The tunic's seamlessness symbolizes Jesus' seamless, uninterrupted, and perfect character. 

As a uniform - The tunic symbolizes Jesus wearing the uniform of the High Priest, which was appropriate for someone who would atone for the sins of the world. 

As a symbol of God's provision - The tunic symbolizes God's provision, favor, healing, and deliverance through Jesus' death and resurrection. 

After Jesus was crucified, the soldiers divided his clothing, but when they came to the seamless tunic they said to each other "let's not tear it." Instead, they cast lots for it and in so doing fulfilled what the Scriptures said in Psalms 22:18.

Something as trivial as a tunic, a garment, and its treatment turns out to have significant implications and connects us back to a thread found earlier in the scriptures. There's always significance and deeper meaning when we're walking with God. Each time I read or heard this passage my brain was stirred; it was a thought that would not go away forcing me to dig deeper. Digging deeper into God's Word is a good thing as it strengthens my relationship and makes me approach life differently. I begin to see the wonder in everything bringing me to a place of gratitude and humility.

Perhaps you've never given this any thought. But now that you've read this, I hope it inspires you, like it did me, to go deeper.

--Nylse

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