21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

The Great Exchange

We looked at the life of Barabbas (Matthew 27:15-26) this Sunday and saw it pictured this great exchange. Barabbas was set free while Jesus was convicted and eventually crucified. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explicitly states what we saw illustrated in Barabbas's release.Jesus Christ took on our sin and and our shame in order that he could give us his righteousness. We give him our sin and he gives us his righteousness.Lesslie Newbigin says it this way,

"The gospel, the story of the astonishing act of God himself in coming down to be part of our alienated world, to endure the full horror of our rebellion against love, to take the whole burden of our guilt and shame, and to lift us up into communion and fellowship with himself, breaks into this self-centered search for our happiness, shift the center from the self and its desires to God and His Glory."

Isaiah 53:5 states,"But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities, punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds." Now, I want you to think about the worst sin you've committed today. Now think about the worst sin you've committed this month. What about this year? What about this decade? Even considering all of those small things you're unaware of that were birthed from insecurity, jealousy, or arrogance.Jesus looks at you today and asks you to hand that to Him.His nail-marked hands are prepared to receive your sin, rebellion, and selfishness.And in return, he will not give you a scowl or a rebuke; instead, he offers you his righteousness. He offers you his innocence, his guiltless record. He offers you himself.May we embrace the gift of Christ's righteousness given to us in the great exchange.