An Unfair Exchange

Saturday, 3rd April 2010

Supposing you took part in some lucky draw and happened to win the 1st prize, which is an all-expenses paid trip by Economy class to an exotic destination such as the Maldives for a week, costing more than S$5,000.  When you go to the travel agent to claim your prize, he tells you, "Sorry, sir/ma'am.  This package is no longer available".  And then he goes on to say, "In exchange, how about a trip to this neighbouring country on a budget airline?" (which cost maybe S$500).

What would your response be?

1. It's okay.  Anyway, since it's free, I'll take whatever I can get that you can give.
2. No way, Jose!  The lucky draw said a trip to the Maldives, so at the minimum, you should give me something that is equivalent to S$5,000.

Now imagine instead of the above, let's say the agent says, "Sorry, sir/ma'am.  This package is no longer available.  In exchange, how about we fly you Business class, add another week to it, at no additional costs?" (even though it will cost at least another S$10,000 more)

What would your response be?

3. Paiseh leh.  Let me pay you for the difference of S$10,000.
4. Thank you!  This is really an unexpected but pleasant and wonderful surprise!  I am really grateful for your generosity!

We may read the above illustration and smile, especially at response #2 because that's a typical Singaporean reaction.  But let's just take a step back and reflect upon this.  2,000 years ago, an unfair exchange took place.  Jesus who knew no sin, was punished for our sin, so much so that God the Father had to turn His back on His own beloved Son.  In exchange for that, we who were sinners, can now go right into the very presence of God the Father and stand before Him as righteous and uncondemned because the veil was torn in two.

Yes, it was an unfair exchange.  Consider the following:

(1) We deserved death, but God, through the death of Jesus, has given us abundant life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

(2) We deserved curses, but Jesus by dying on a cross, took those curses upon Himself, so that we can be blessed with the blessings of Abraham.

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 tree, 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. (Gal 3:13,14)

(3) Jesus who knew no sin, became sin so that we can be made the righteousnes of God in Christ.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

(4) Jesus agonised in the garden of Gethsamane (which means oil press). He was under so much stress and pressure that His capillaries burst and mixed with His sweat which fell to the ground.  By doing so, He redeemed mankind from the curse that God pronounced upon Adam in another garden (the garden of Eden), whereby work would be stressful and backbreaking.  We of the New Covenant should be working from a position of rest.

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Lk 22:44)

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Gen 3:19)

(5) Jesus took those lashes upon His body, so that by His stripes, we are healed and can now walk in health and wholeness.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:5)

(6) Jesus, who created the heavens and the earth and owns the cattle on a thousand hills, was stripped totally naked on the cross, after the soldiers gambled for His robe.  He was made poor on the cross for our sakes, so that we might be rich.

 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)

(7) Jesus was abandoned by His Father at the cross and thus cried, "My God! My God!  Why have you forsaken me?" so that in exchange, we can cry to Him, "Thank you my Daddy God, for I know that you will never leave or forsake me." 

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46)

Great is the measure of our Father's love!  Amen?

Tomorrow I will blog about the responses to the unfair lucky-draw-prize exchange and the lessons that we as Christians can draw from this because they actually typify our response to the unfair divine exchange, so stay tuned :-)