For Christ the change of clothing came at his death and resurrection. Peter was a witness to this when he looked into the tomb where Christ had been lain. “And he stooping down and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying, yet he went not in” (John 20:3-7). For Lazarus, when he was caused to come forth from the grave with divine permission from Christ, he was wearing still the clothes of mortality while Christ left behind the linen clothes that represented the law and those of the crucified one.
Risen again God would select from his wardrobe clothes for him to wear, those of immortality. Garments of the angels to join their company in short time around the throne on high. It is interesting to see through the eyes of scriptures that from his birth as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes to the time when he would be priest, the judge and king, he wore over thirty changes of garments.
If Christ has not already passed our way he will soon. If we are looking for him he will travel the highway we are on just as he did with blind Bartimaeus. This most touching scene is recorded for us in Mark 10:49: “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he called thee,” verse 50: “And he casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus.” On that special day through faith in the presence of the great Healer of mankind he received the most precious thing given to him, his sight. Not alone the physical sight but to see Jesus for what he really was, the Saviour of mankind. Preaching and healing that all men might have a clear vision of the Kingdom and accept the invitation to become citizens of it. It is recorded of that man he “followed Jesus in the WAY.” This man had been given a change of raiment. Willingly he left in the dust of mortality the thing that had been most precious to him, his robe which kept him warm from the cool evening breeze. Something to sit on while he called on the passerby to give him a few shekels. It meant nothing now, for he had been given the robe of a disciple of Christ.
Clothed like Christ if he remained in that Way. The people who passed by recognized him before by his blindness, “there is old blind Bartimeaus still sitting there.” Now they would recognize him as one who follows in the footsteps of Jesus the Christ. Would they want to be clothed the same? We are sure that this man would give them all the encouragement. How different was this man to Achan who having been given the victory and so much more from his God, tried hard to cling to the raiment’s, fashions of another nation that knew not the true and living God. Joshua 7:21. “When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight then I did covet them, and took them; and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent”. Achan made three fatal moves-1. “I saw”. 2. I did covet them. 3. and took them. Christ had painted a word picture of the lilies of glory were not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:29).
If God had taken so much care and thought in dressing the flowers of the field then Christ is saying that his Heavenly Father who is sensitive and aware of the bird that falls to the earth will then have greater concern for our apparel. “Shall he not much more clothe you.”
The Apostle Paul reminds his son in the faith of this, in one of his letters. To survive the wilderness journey of life he must put on the clothes that his Heavenly Father offers him from his wardrobe. The uniform of one who labors in the vineyard. “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” (II. Timothy 2:1-7). “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Christ” (verse 3).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One