THE DIVINE EXCHANGE

 THE DIVINE EXCHANGE

By The Rt. Rev Onesimus Asiimwe

Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese 

From left-right (The Rt. Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe and wife, Mama Florence Asiimwe) 

Today, Good Friday, we are reflecting on The Divine Exchange that took place on the Cross, based on two Scriptures:

1. Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV): "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

The evil that was due to us came upon Jesus, that in return, the good due to Jesus might be offered to us. The evil came upon Him that the corresponding good might be offered to us.

Firstly, Jesus was punished so that we might be forgiven.

In the Old Testament times, the person who sinned was required to bring his sacrificial offering - a sheep, a goat, a bull, or some other animal to the Priest. He would confess his sin over the offering, and the Priest would symbolically transfer the sin he had confessed from the person to the animal. Then the animal would be killed, thus paying the penalty for the sin that had been transferred to it.

God made the soul of His Son Jesus Christ an offering for sin.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him".

This is God's righteousness and it is not achieved by our own efforts but imparted on us by faith alone. Therefore, Jesus received the punishment due to our transgressions and iniquities that we, in turn, might be forgiven and so have peace with God. 

Secondly, Jesus was wounded so that we might be healed. 

Jesus, also bore our sicknesses and pains that we through His wounds might be healed. He bore our sicknesses and pains that we through His wounds might be healed. This exchange is confirmed in His healing ministry. Jesus healed all who were sick, to fulfill that which was spoken by Prophet Isaiah. In 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV), the Apostle refers back to Isaiah 53:5–6 and says of Jesus, "...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -by whose stripes [wounds] you were healed."

May God's righteousness and His healing be your portion today. 

2. Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV)

13"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

We have so far discussed two aspects of the divine exchange that took place at the Cross of Jesus; 

1- Jesus was punished so that we might be forgiven.

2- Jesus was wounded so that we might be healed. 

The Cross ✝️ crossed ❌️ many things in our lives. In this particular Scripture, we see that Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the blessing.

A 'curse' is an utterance (usually by persons in positions of authority) intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. Many people live under fear of curses.  

The curse that came upon Jesus is defined as “the curse of the law.” In Deuteronomy 28, Moses gave a list of both the blessings that result from obeying the law and the curses that result from breaking it. 

The curses listed in Deuteronomy 28:15–68 may be summed up as follows:

Humiliation, unfruitfulness, mental and physical sickness, family breakdown, defeat, oppression, failure and rejection. The list could be longer. 

Does one or more of the words listed above apply to areas in your life? Are there things that rest like a dark shadow over you, shutting out the sunlight of God’s blessing that you long for? If so, it may be possible that the root cause of your problem is a curse, from which you need to be released.

As Jesus hanged on the Cross, Earth had rejected Him and Heaven would not respond to His cry. Jesus had taken upon Himself every evil consequence that rebellion had brought upon humanity. He had exhausted every curse of God’s broken law. He went through all this, that we (the Gentiles) in turn might receive every blessing due to His obedience. 

The law of Moses, stated in Deuteronomy 21:23, according to which a person executed by hanging on a tree came under God's curse was  enacted on Jesus. The result was the blessing given to Abraham could then be accessed by the Gentiles.

Therefore, everyone who is in Christ does not deserve a curse and every curse uttered against them only keeps wandering. The Bible says;

"Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim." Prov. 26:2 (NLT)

When Balak hired Balaam to curse Israelites, the Lord turned the curse into a blessing (Nehemiah 13:2). The children of Israel were too blessed to be cursed. So are you-child of God. May Christ release you from every curse so that  you may enter into the blessing. 

Child of God, this is why the day when Jesus died is called Good Friday. The mystery of the immortal dying! In John 19:30, Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED". The cry gathers up Jesus' entire ministry. It was a cry of triumph. Jesus accomplished the work the Father had sent Him to do. 

The Greek word for "It is finished" is 'Tetelestai' which implies that the work is accomplished. Paid in full. Artists call a very nicely finished work a 'Master piece' which does not need any other touch. Calvary cannot be improved. There is no room for improvement. Isn't this Good News?

Jesus accomplished His mission. The full price required by God's righteous Law of man's redemption was fully paid. An end of transgression was made, bringing in an everlasting righteousness. 

Hallelujah! 

HAPPY EASTER!