Since I grew up in a single parent home, I remember growing up (together with my siblings) with our househelpers. One of our ate’s, her name was Luz, had lots of things she downloaded to us during Holy Week.
Here’s Ate Luz’ top 5 things she told us every time Lenten season hits.
1. I can’t play during Holy Week, especially on Black Saturday since Jesus was dead.
2. I can’t take a shower on Good Friday, especially after 3pm. This one, I didn’t really mind as a kid. Haha!
3. Bad spirits are out during Holy Week because Jesus is dead.
4. Load up your amulets (anting anting) with prayers for more power. This one, I didn’t really understand.
No. 5 was my favorite…
5. I can’t cut my nails on Good Friday because just in case I cut my skin and wound it, it will not heal for a very long time.
Funny but for a long time, I held on to these beliefs as well.
But if there was one thing I learned and held on since I gave my life to Christ was the fact that Jesus took my sin and as a result, what I got was His righteousness. It was indeed an unfair exchange.
John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).
In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb would only ‘cover’ the sin of the people. And it was for a limited time and a limited geographical location.
However, when Jesus came and died, He didn’t just cover my sin. He took away my sin.
Ps. 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
My greed, lust, imm0rality, pride, hatred, anger, unforgiveness… the list goes on and on and on…
All those, He took. Bible scholars call that as imputation. My sin imputed on Him and His righteousness imputed on me. Unfair deal? You bet. But I’ll take it any day.
Listen to what Martin Luther said,
“This is that mystery which is rich in divine grace to sinners: wherein by a wonderful exchange our sins are no longer ours but Christ’s, and the righteousness of Christ not Christ’s but ours. He has emptied himself of his righteousness that he might clothe us with it and fill us with it; and he has taken our evils upon himself that he might deliver us from them.”
Result?
A grateful heart.
Jesus, thanks! I am forever grateful!
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