“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25).

The attitude of our first parents to their nakedness changed after the fall. At first there was no shame in nakedness, but the next chapter of Genesis, reporting their fall into sin, says that “the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (v.7). Adam and Eve “hid themselves from the presence of the LORD” (v.8). The Lord in turn made “coats of skins, and clothed them” (v.21).

Not only did our Lord make provision for clothing, however, but He Himself suffered the indignity of exposure while hanging on the cross. The soldiers “took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part” (John 19:23). They also took His seamless “coat” (khiton in Greek, the part worn next to the skin) and gambled for it (vs.23,24). Not only did this fulfill prophecy concerning the Messiah (Psalm 22:18), but Jesus was even suffering the shame of nakedness so that we might be clothed forever in the robes of His righteousness!

Jesus said, “I counsel thee to buy . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear . . .” (Revelation 3:18). In Revelation 7:13,14 we read that “one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?” The answer came, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

The Lord Jesus Christ was that Lamb, typified by the animal or animals used to provide covering for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). The Creator, who sacrificed one or more of His creatures to cover our first parents, sacrificed Himself to cover us with His love. He is worthy of our love and devotion. PGH