The Divine Gift Exchange

By Susan Miller

I was born in the autumn of the year in a sukkah in Bethlehem, to a young, poor Jewish woman who had her betrothed at her side. Though I was destined to be King I was trained as a craftsman and spent much time studying the Scriptures while growing up.

At the age of 30 I began My ministry to Jewish people and soon was accompanied by a team of twelve administrative assistants. This work was authorized by My Heavenly Father and involved a search and rescue mission. We went looking for the lost, the sick and the confused. During that period of time I cast out demons – thus putting people back in their right minds. I healed the sick of their diseases, including leprosy, healed those born blind and deaf, and raised people from the dead. More than once I fed multitudes of people with a small amount of bread and fish and as a result was popular at parties. In fact, on one occasion I changed water into wine at a wedding feast. I mastered the art of public speaking, not to mention the art of storytelling. My experience includes speaking with individuals, small groups and multitudes.

Having no political aspirations in trying to throw off the then current rulers of Rome, My message to the multitudes was the message that prophets before Me came to deliver. This message was simple: Turn back to the Scriptures; the same Scriptures that Moses and the prophets had written down for them. Moses had told Israel that YHVH would one day raise up a prophet like him and that they should listen to him:

“I [YHVH] will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you [Moses], and I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which He shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).

I am that prophet. Moses’ written word about Me was truth and I had come to declare the fact that, what Moses wrote was the truth. The Word of God had now come as the Living Word and I am He. The King of heaven was in the midst of the sons of Israel. I was looking for the ten righteous men whom, a distant relative of mine, Abraham, had bargained with Me for in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. But alas, we could not find ten men who would believe. And, would I find them now? If so, if they could be found, could redemption be far behind?

In spite of these accomplishments, like you, My friend, I was also tempted, unappreciated for My efforts, misunderstood by family members, taken for granted, rejected for my ideas, insulted, betrayed by friends, lied about, falsely accused, and even abused. Then, even though I was an innocent man, I was asked by My Father to pay the ultimate price – to give My life, eternal and abundant – and to make the results of My sacrifice available to all of mankind. Money could not buy this eternal sacrifice. It could only be paid for with blood – for that is where life is. No longer would a temporary blood covering from sacrificial animals suffice, nor would the blood of a “mortal man” serve to pay the high price. As written in the Psalms, the price is “too costly” (Psalm 49:7-15). Instead, it was time for one last sacrifice, one that was fit for all who would accept it as being the final payment for their sins. My death would be the payment; My resurrected life depicts the resulting gift – new and eternal life. It was a divine “gift exchange.” Seem extravagant? Not when you begin to understand My Father’s love for you and the extent that He would go to give you that Gift. It is truly a Divine Gift offered for all! I encourage you to take full advantage of My Divine Gift and to please share it!