The Divine Exchange

On Good Friday as we remember the self-sacrificial act of our Savior Jesus dying on the cross, we marvel at the extent to which the love of our Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit went to include with them all of humanity into face-to-face communion. This isn’t just amazing, it’s what actually defines all of life, it’s what gives us purpose and it’s what points us to our eternal destiny of belonging with God for all eternity. I love the fresh, vivid language in the Mirror Bible from portions of 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. May I suggest that you sit quietly and allow the Lord to encounter you—his Spirit to your spirit—with the astonishing truth of the Good News that contains supernatural transforming power: “The love of Christ resonates within us and leaves us with only one conclusion: Jesus died mankind’s death; therefore, in God’s logic, every individual simultaneously died. Now if all were included in his death, they were equally included in his resurrection. This unveiling of his love redefines human life! Whatever reference we could have of ourselves outside of our association with Christ is no longer relevant. Now, in the light of your co-inclusion in his death and resurrection, whoever you thought you were before, in Christ you are a brand-new person! The old ways of seeing yourself and everyone else are over. Acquaint yourself with the new!  God was present in Christ when he reconciled the total cosmos to himself. Deity and humankind embraced in him; the fallen state of mankind was deleted; their trespasses would no longer count against them! He now announces his friendship with every individual from within us! This is the divine exchange: he who knew no sin embraced our distortion; he appeared to be without form; this was the mystery of God’s prophetic poetry. He was disguised in our distorted image and marred with our iniquities; he took our sorrows, our pain and our shame to his grave and birthed his righteousness in us. He took our sins and we became his innocence.” Oh, happy day! Oh, happy eternal life! We are blessed beyond measure!! With Love, Pastor Brent