As we get closer to celebrating Easter, I am reminded of the omo ngarisha maisha gameshow. Many other TV shows have had the same concept over the years.
Participants are chosen from the studio audience and they are required to answer a set of questions. Those who are able to get the correct answers the fastest are chosen and then we get to the interesting part.
They each choose a t-shirt which has a stain but underneath the stain there is a picture of what price they walk away with. This could be anything from a car to a roll of tissue paper.
The host of the show has the task of convincing the participants not to look at what is underneath the stain in exchange for a particular sum of money.
The studio audience also joins in and each and every time you can see the tension on the participants face as they ponder on whether to take the money or stick with the unknown price.
We have seen some participants refuse huge sums of money and they end up going home with a ball point pen while others drive away in a brand new car.
It is simply a game of chance. Jesus is simply saying “I will give you my life if you give me yours.” The Son of God became the son of man that we sons of men could become sons of God.
The evil that was to come to us was heaped upon Christ so that the good that is Christ’s can come to us. Many struggle with that because they don’t really know what Christ is offering them.
It is kind of the opposite of the game show, you have the money and Christ wants you to trust Him enough to exchange it for something you cannot see.
Easter is about the great exchange. We were all destined to die but Jesus stepped in and took our place. Many don’t understand the great exchange that took place at Calvary.
Jesus was made sin so we might be made righteous by His righteousness! He underwent punishment so that we might be forgiven!He was wounded so that we might be healed!
He died our death so we might share his life! Jesus bore our guilt so we might share in his justification! He became curse so that we might receive our blessing!
Our shame was heaped on Him so that might share in His glory! He endured our rejection so that we might enjoy His acceptance!
Luke 9:24-25
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
