A total exchange

Saturday April 3, 2021

A total exchange

We were all like lost sheep : each went his own way. Isaiah 53.6

This passage can be summed up in one word : rebellion. This is the common sin of all mankind. The prophet continues : "And the Lord has laid down upon him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53.6). The word iniquity (in Hebrew, avon) means "rebellion", "punishment for rebellion" and "all the evil consequences of rebellion". On the Cross, Jesus (our substitute, the last Adam) became rebellious from our rebellion, and endured all the evil consequences of the rebellion.

This is the door that opens the house to the treasures of God, if we understand it at all. Here's the trade-off : All the evil our rebellion deserved came on Jesus so that all the good he deserved (because of his perfect obedience) could be given to us. Regardless of how we look at this exchange, it was absolute.

"Jesus was punished so that we could be forgiven."

Jesus was punished so that we could be forgiven. He was bruised so that we could be healed. He bore our sins so that we could share in His righteousness. He suffered our death so that we could share his life. He was made a curse so that we would receive the blessing. He endured our poverty so that we would receive abundance. He carried our shame, so that we could enjoy his glory. He endured the rejection we were subjected to so that we would be accepted like him.

Just imagine the rebel on the Cross, and know that is you (yes, you should be hanged there). But Jesus took your place. Not only did he carry your rebellion but he also carried its evil consequences so that you can enter into all the blessings due to his perfect obedience. It is the work of grace. You can't earn it, you didn't deserve it, and you had no right to claim it. There is only one way to receive it, and that is by faith. Just believe.

A prayer for today

Thank you Jesus for your work on the Cross. Thanks for taking my place. Thank you for your perfect obedience through which I receive all the blessings due to you. Help me to grasp the breadth and depth of this grace and help me to receive it with ease.

Derek prince

Source (The Thought of the Day)