When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” (Jn 19:23-24)
“The tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.” Jesus must have received this as a gift from a loving disciple. He did not scorn the fancy robe. It was so nice that the soldiers decided to cast lots for it instead of dividing it up between them. This was part of their pay as soldiers. They were entitled to the belongings of those they crucified. Today they truly had a bonus. John describes the tunic though because there is greater meaning to it. It reminds one of the expensive tunics the high priests were prescribed to wear in the Old Testament while they were working in the temple and making sacrifice for God. God’s servants dressed well in the temple. They were not to be regarded as paupers. Now Jesus wears the tunic of a High Priest as he performs his duties and makes sacrifice before God as our High Priest of the order of Mechelzidek, whose sacrifice was consumed in bread and wine.
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