10 - Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

We see Jesus' open hands here, as if to show that He has nothing to hide, no shame or guilt.  And there's no struggle either.  The innocent God-man, who could say stop to all this at any moment, goes along with the toughest demand that love ever made.  To lay down His life, for those who turn away from God, to give us another chance.  And another chance, and another..

He'll forgive more times than we can count, and even pay the price for our mistakes, and even for our deliberate transgressions.  See the hands here intact, will soon be wounded with nails to hold Him to the cross and squeeze the breath out of His 33 year old and still strong lungs.

He feels no shame as they strip Him bare, only sorrow that sin persists.  Being fully man, as well as God, Jesus knows the pressures we face, the temptations, the hardships, the need for escape, for relief, for fulfilment, for achievement, for pleasure, for joy, for warmth, for self worth.  And His sorrow is for those who, in their eagerness to pursue these good things, would deny Him any part in their lives - when in reality, He sacrifices Himself for us, that we would not only have such good things, but more: to have all goodness, pressed down and overflowing: for keeps.