All that that the Messiah suffered on the Cross was for you! There was a great exchange made for you. He took all of your curses, all the bad seed that you or your forefathers have sown. You now deserve the horrible result, the fruit, of that bad seed. However, by grace, Jesus has feely given you all the blessings that only He deserves.
The Cross of Jesus, or the Blood Covenant, gave us all the blessings of God, and gave Jesus all the curses and sins of man.
Isaiah 53:4-6 says, ìSurely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.î
The Story about Barabbas. Matthew 27:16 says that Barabbas was a notorious prisoner. There were three crosses on Golgotha. The two on either side were made for criminals. Who was the middle cross made for, Jesus? No, It was made for Barabbas. Jesus took his place. Isaiah 53 says that Jesus took our place.
Listed
here are some of the major exchanges Jesus made for us that we may
enjoy.
1. Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven
(Isaiah 53: 4-5, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 2:13).
2. Jesus was wounded that we might be healed (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, 1 Peter
2:24).
3. Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might be made righteous with His righteousness (Isaiah 53:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness means to be in good standing with God
(Romans 3:22, Romans 4:6, Romans 10:10).
4. Jesus died our death that we might share His life.
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23, Hebrews 2:9, John 8:52).
5. Jesus was made a curse that we might receive the blessing (Galatians 3:13-14, Deuteronomy 21:22-23,
Deuteronomy 28:1-13).
Some curses:
Mental and emotional breakdowns.
Repeated or chronic sickness and disease - especially hereditary.
Repeated miscarriage or female problems.
Breakdown of marriage and family- marriage to wrong partners.
Continued financial insufficiency, especially when income appears to be sufficient.
Accident-prone.
Suicides or unnatural deaths.
Addictions, such as alcohol and drugs.
Rebellion to authority.
Unnatural sexual tendencies.
Appropriating the power of the Cross will deliver you from these and many more curses. Get ready!
6. Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance (2 Corinthians 8:9 and 9:8).
Sufficiency is just enough; abundance is more than enough so that we can bless others. Jesus was hungry, thirsty, naked and in need at the Cross.
7. Jesus bore our shame that we might share His glory (Matthew 27:35-36).
Hebrews 2:10 says that Jesus brings many sons to glory (not shame).
We can receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit counteracts shame.
Sexual abuse causes shame.
We obtain the slavery mindset through shame.
We get self-esteem problems through shame.
8. Jesus endured our rejection that we might have His acceptance with the Father (Matthew 27:45-51). The
Father hid His face from Jesus and rejected Him for us. Ephesians 1:6
says we are accepted by the Father.
People are hungry to be accepted, to feel as if they belong, as if they matter to someone. Only Jesus can give this. His Church is the place for belonging.
Children need their fatherís acceptance.
Love must be openly expressed.
Divorce causes rejection (Isaiah 54:6).
Jesus died of a broken heart.
ìAccept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to Godî (Romans 15:7). God accepts us in our sinful condition (Ephesians 1:3-6).
9. Jesus was cut off from the Father by death that we might enjoy
Godís presence eternally
(Matthew 27:46, Isaiah 53:8, Hebrews 10:21-22, Jude 24, Colossians
1:27, Ephesians 3:16-20).
Our need for emotional security is satisfied.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is available to give us Godís presence (Acts 1:8).
10. Our ìold manî (sin nature) was put to death in Him, that the new man (Christís
nature) might come to life
in us (Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20).
Forgiveness of sins is great, but doing away with the person that sins is greater.
11. Jesus experienced our sorrows and bore our griefs that we might have gladness and
joy (Isaiah 53, Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 51:11).
Death of a loved one, loss of some kind, pending disaster, overwhelming worry and sadness can cause hopelessness in your life, even a potential for suicide. The Holy Spirit brings us joy.
12. Jesus kept the law
for us so that we could live by grace
(Romans 7:6 and 8:1-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:1-3).
Living by legalism is promoting the power of the flesh (1 Corinthians 15:56). It leads to frustration, failure, addictions, condemnation, and backsliding.
13. Jesus was tormented that we might enjoy peace (Isaiah 53:5, Philippians 4:7).
14. Jesus was made insignificant that we might have significance. He was sold for the price of a slave
(Matthew 26:15,
1 Peter 1:18-19). The price God paid for us makes us significant.
15. Jesus was captured by the world, so that we could be delivered from the world, this present evil age
(Galatians 1:4 and 6:14). The world has been crucified to us and we
have been crucified to the world.
16. Evil was conquered. Jesus
(appeared to have) suffered defeat by evil that we might enjoy victory over evil.
The Cross Was Absolute. It disarmed and defeated Satan and every evil that ever existed. Even the evil that looks as if it is coming on you. No matter what hits you, it must turn into a blessing. Colossians 2:14-15 says, ì[Jesus] blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, [all the right that Satan had to do evil to us] which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Having stripped rulers and authorities [demons and Satan], He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it.î See also Mark 16:15-19 and Romans 6:9.
