Easter is a foundational pillar of our salvation and faith. It brings us many benefits and reminds us of the agony of a man who did all to give all to humanity.
Easter is not just a festival of change but a great start to a glorious exchange. Isaiah 53:1-10 highlights the gravity of His suffering, pain, and shame – all these to bring about a newness of life. Here are some glorious exchanges that transpired through the perfect sacrifice made on the cross:
- He took our shame and gave us His fame
Isaiah 53:2-3: “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. [3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”
Jesus went through all these to restore us to our original level in Him, giving us a new name and new hope.
- He became cursed so we could become blessed
Galatians 3:13-14: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: [14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
- He became poor so we could walk in His glorious riches
2 Corinthians 8:9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”
- He was made sin to grant us the power to be right with God
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21:
As believers, walking through scriptures and seeing this great exchange and work done on the cross, we ought not to trivialize this season for any reason. Rather, it should call for a great reflection on the sacrifices made, appreciation of Jesus and His work, and the application of His dictates and commandments by living our lives for Him as Apostle Paul said in Romans 14:8: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
May this season not be observed merely as a holiday period. Instead, let us observe it with meaning and purpose. May the sacrifice made by Christ never be in vain in our lives.
His pain, our gain.
Written by Elder Emmanuel Baidoo Madugu (Michel Camp District)
