DECEMBER 6 THE FIRST GIFT OF CLOTHING IN HISTORY By Christopher Cone President and Research Professor, Agathon University Adjunct Faculty, Word of Life Bible Institute
Today’s Passage: Genesis 3
Recent statistics showed that the third most desired Christmas gift was clothing. 1 As giving and receiving clothing is on the minds of many during this time of year, it is worth remembering the first gift of clothing in history and what it foreshadowed. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they found themselves under the penalty of spiritual death – of separation from God (Genesis 2:17) – and also under the consequence of physical death (3:19). Previously, they had no guilt and shame, but now they were guilty and ashamed. They tried to cover their sin by crafting clothing from fig leaves (3:7), but their efforts could not cover their sin at all. The situation was so bad that Paul explained that Adam’s sin resulted in the death (spiritual and physical) for all humanity (Romans 5:12,15). But what Adam and Eve couldn’t do for themselves, God could. God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve and clothed them (3:21). An animal had to die to provide the covering for Adam and Eve’s sin against God. This showed the horror of sin and the severity of the need for salvation. It also showed God’s love for humanity and His willingness to intervene to solve the greatest of problems is nothing new. God’s animal-skin clothing for Adam and Eve was a temporary solution but offered a hint of what God would later do. God loved humanity so much He would one day send His Son, Jesus, who would be the sacrificial Lamb, shedding His own blood to pay for the sin of all humanity (John 3:16). All who believe in Jesus would be forgiven – their sin would be covered forever and washed away – and their spiritual death would be replaced by eternal life. One day, they would experience resurrection, and even their bodies would no longer be cursed by physical death. This Christmas season, as you may ponder giving or receiving clothing, think about the first-ever gift of clothing and what it meant for all of us. Perhaps those ugly Christmas sweaters may be of some use after all.
1 Alexander Kunst, “Christmas Gifts Desired by U.S. Consumers 2023” in Statista, November 30, 2023, viewed at https://www.statista.com/statistics/246622/christmas-gifts-desired-by-us-consumers/.
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