The color of blood is red and a cloth dipped in blood will also turn red. John the apostle has written about a person who comes with a robe dipped in blood. He is called Faithful and True, who judges in righteousness and makes war (Rev. 19:11) and who will rule the nations with a rod of iron‘ (Rev 19: 15). ‘He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God’ (Rev: 19:13). This Word once became flesh and lived among us (Jn 1:14). ‘He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him’ (Heb 9:28).
It is not the first time Jesus is wearing a red robe. Once his enemies made him wear a scarlet robe (Mt 27:28). Jesus who ‘gave his back to those who struck him and cheeks to those who pulled out the beard’ (Isa 50:6) did not protest when he was stripped and a scarlet robe put on him forcefully. This change of dress was with the sole purpose of mocking him. The evangelist has recorded that after mocking Jesus they stripped him of the scarlet robe and put his own clothes on him (Mt 27:31).
Jesus in scarlet robe was an undertrial waiting to be presented before the judge. But Jesus who is to come with a robe dipped in blood is the ultimate judge. He is ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’ (Rev 19:16). A day is coming when every knee should bow at his name (Phil 2:10-11).
The scarlet robe, once a symbol of insult and ignominy, has transformed into a red robe, the symbol of glory. The period in between is the age of grace granted to mankind from heaven. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was clothed in a purple robe. His life was a celebration of pleasure and by the time he woke up from the slumber of dissipation, he found himself at an unpleasant place, far from Abraham’s lap. And a return from that place was never possible.
The robes of Christians always have the shade of blood on them. Jesus has forewarned us that if they persecuted him, they will also persecute us. If this prophecy is not fulfilled in us, it simply means that we have not yet become Christians. To those who are not willing to wear the red robe of insult, injury, persecution and mockery for the sake of Jesus’ name, standing before Jesus clothed in a robe dipped in blood would be difficult.
We have entered an era when thousands and millions more are going to be added to the long list of Christians who overcame the power of Satan ‘by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and who loved not their lives unto death’ (Rev 12:11). Let us effectively utilize these days of grace to wash our robes so as to acquire the right to the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the city’ (Rev 22:14).
The merciful Lord who has promised to transform our scarlet like sins into snow white (Isa 1:18) is waiting with white garments to clothe us (Rev 3:5). But it is our duty to prove our worthiness to receive that white robe. Let us prove it by taking the firm decision ‘to go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach’ (Heb 13:13).
