ADVENT 2023 #1 ~ The GREAT EXCHANGE ~John 13:3-5

JESUS knowing that

The FATHER had given all things into His+ hands,

and that HE+ was

 COME FROM GOD,

and went to GOD;

 ^{John 13:3} 

 HE+ riseth from supper, and

laid aside His+ garments;

and took a towel,

and girded Himself+ . ^{John 13:4} 

 After that HE+ poureth water into a bason,

and began to wash the disciples' feet,

and to wipe them with the towel

wherewith HE+ was girded. ^{John 13:5} 

+  +  +

THE GREAT EXCHANGE

The GREAT EXCHANGE occurred  at His+ Birth. The LORD JESUS CHRIST left His+ Divine estate to be clothed with the flesh of man.

HE+ knew this .

HE+ knew what was coming.

HE+ knew what it meant for man. 

HE+ knew what that Great Exchange meant for Himself+.

His+ disciples in the Upper Room did not know. If they sensed His+ coming death, they refused to acknowledge it even though The LORD told them beforehand.

Therefore, The LORD JESUS presented to them an Object Lesson.

 HE+ shared the Lesson about HIMSELF+ at the Last Passover Supper which HE+ ate with His+ Disciples  [  And HE+ said unto them, With desire I+ have desired to eat this Passover with you before I+  suffer: ^{Luke 22:15} ]

Here is the Object Lesson:

HE+ riseth from supper, and

 laid aside His+ garments;

and took a towel,

and girded Himself+ . 

The LORD JESUS  indeed  “laid aside His+ garments. . .” , His+ Robe of Divinity, His+ Robe of Divine LIGHT . . .

Who+, being in the form of GOD, thought it not a thing to be held onto to be equal with GOD:  But made HIMSELF+ of no reputation, and took upon HIM+ the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ^{Philippians 2:6-7}

At the Last Passover, The LORD showed His+ Disciples EXACTLY WHAT HE+ DID at His+ Birth:

HE+ laid aside His+ Divine Heavenly Robe and took upon HIMSELF+  the flesh of man . . .  the Great Exchange.

There was a Divine Reason that HE+  exchanged His+ Heavenly Robe for the flesh of mankind.  HE+ embraced that Reason before HE+ came to earth incarnate.  

That Reason is found in Revelation 13:8 ~

⁸ And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him^{the beast}, whose names are not written

in the BOOK of LIFE

of The LAMB+

 SLAIN*

from the foundation of the world.

[* Literally: having been slain ]

HE+ knew the Divine Reason for that Great Exchange of Garments was to enable HIM+ , the Second ADAM . . . to be SLAIN . . .  as the AUTHENTIC  LAMB+ of GOD. 

An earthly lamb was NO LONGER going to stand as a substitute for the REAL LAMB+ OF GOD.  

With CHRIST’S INCARNATION,  the plans were set in motion for the effectual cleansing BLOOD+  to be shed here upon earth. . . that BLOOD which cleanses us from sin .

That REASON was planted in His+ heart .  

So, as Scripture states:

HE+ riseth from supper, and

 laid aside His+ garments;

and took a towel,

and girded Himself+ . 

+  +  +

HOSANNA ! HOSANNA !

Hosanna in the HIGHEST .

And on earth,

PEACE , GOODWILL toward men.

 +  +  +

 O LORD JESUS,

Thank YOU+ for leaving Your+ Heavenly Place , laying aside Your+ Divine Robe of LIGHT, to come to this dark place called Planet Earth.   

Thank YOU+ for making that Great Exchange to take on our lowly robe of flesh.

Likewise, help me to lay aside my  flesh which permeates my entire being and to be clothed upon by Thy+ Eternal LIGHT, the LIGHT of LIFE, found only in YOU+, O CHRIST. 

Now I give my life to YOU+ . . .  because YOU+ gave YOUR+ life for me. 

Amen.