The connection of exchange

When Jesus said, "the work that I do you, too, shall do, and greater than these...", He started a theological debate on what He meant. To me, the greatest work He did was to go to the cross and exchange our sinfull existance for His unlimited Life. You can't have a connection without exchange. Jesus took on our likeness and came and walked out a human life in our realm. But until He took the step that allowed exchange, there could be no connection for us with Him. We could not die to sin and self and be resurrected into His eternal likeness without that exchange.

We learned that exchange is the bottom line of covenant cutting. You exchange names, possessions, blood and vows in a cutting ceremony. I heard a sermon yesterday on the 7 exchanges Jesus made on the cross. I want to give you a very condensed outline of those seven exchanges and I will only give you the Scripture reference. If you take the time to look up these references and meditate on them, you will benefit greatly.

In John 19:16-19, Jesus describes the event (His crucifixion) that was to follow, as the time of His glorification. (If you can see your cross experience as glorification you are well on your way to maturity in Him!) This was not how any of the disciples, or any of us, would have viewed that horrible sight. It was the most cruel of all punishments Rome could devise. Hundreds of years before, Isaiah described this exchange. Isaiah 53.
1. The punishment for our sin and iniquity. God punished Jesus for our sin. He does not punish you. When you have cancer, any grave illness, financial trouble, sudden losses due to flood or fire, accident or any bad thing, God is not punishing you. He may be trying to get your attention or discipline you to bring you into a greater relationship with Him, but it is NOT punishment. The time of punishment for all who refuse His provision and Love is held for a time of judgment after this time of opportunity is over. You may reap what you sow, Galatians 6:7-8, but that is not God punishing you. That is a covenant law that governs all this realm.
2. He took our sin and iniquity. He gives you in exchange washing, forgiveness, salvation to righteousness. II Corinthians 5:21
3. He took our sickness. ALL sickness and illness so we could have wholeness. Isaiah 53:4 I Peter 2:24
4. He took our separation from God. Mark 15:24 His Presence is with us constantly even when we are in our darkest hours and cannot feel His Presence, He is there. He carries us, holds us in His hand and enfolds us in His love. Thessalonians 5:9-1I
5. Isaiah 53:12 Jesus took our poverty. Not just our financial poverty but the extreme poverty of our limitation in ability, understanding, flesh, emotion and relationship. When we come as little children, understanding our lack and need, He opens the storehouse of heaven and we can see and enter into His kingdom. Jesus ravaged the kingdom of Satan and took the spoils and will allot our portion with the great. II Corinthians 8:9 Philippians 4:19
6. Jesus took our shame. When Adam and Eve sinned, they knew they were naked. God provided a temporary covering that required the blood of an animal. Jesus took our shame, hanging naked on the cross, that He might become the covering for us. He gives us His glory. Isaiah 53:3 Hebrews 12:1-3 Romans 8:17-18 I Peter 2:4-10
7. Jesus took the curse of the broken covenant. Isaiah 53:6 Galatians 3:13-22Your covenant response to take up your cross and follow Him involves so much more than token actions and words. It is not complete until your adamic nature is nailed to that cross and you live in Him. The connection Jesus provided is a total connection with all of His fulness and it will involve the emptying of all of our self-life. Jesus said to come drink of Him and out of your innermost being will flow rivers of living water. You will walk in His steps.