We are all familiar with replacements. There must have been time in our lives when we have looked for replacements in vain because we are unable to fulfil a task or responsibility and there must have been times that we have also been asked by others to be replacements for them. If the replacement was for something enjoyable or interesting, for example, if it was to attend a privileged party or something we would consider a blessing, we would be delighted but on the other hand, if we were asked to replace someone for a task that would cause inconvenience or suffering, we would have many reservations about taking up the request.
If you needed to find a replacement, think of who would be the first people you would ask to replace you? They would be our friends. This would most clearly be seen in the office when we would rather approach a friend to help us cover a task than to ask a mere acquaintance. Replacement often goes hand in hand with friendship.
Every Friday, we remember the greatest replacement ever. God himself decides to become our replacement without even our asking; totally out of his gratuity, when Jesus Christ took our place upon the cross of Calvary and replaced us. We can imagine God saying to each of us, “Friend, I know you are too weak to pay the price of your sins so I will replace you!” The cross is about friendship because it is God’s hand of friendship stretching out to every human person as he replaces him or her upon the cross.
It is within this context that we can understand the sentiment of St Paul in 2 Cor 12: 9-10, “I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me.” For is being replaced by the only Son of God, I have come to experience so great a friendship. Let us always celebrate this greatest friendship in our lives!
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Stay tuned for the next post by Bro Terence Kesavan on 25th Feb 2010.
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