Mr Mark Ramsay, Principal
The year is 2001. I am embarking on my first teaching job at Trinity Grammar School.
Swap Day was one of the interesting events the school held that year. On this day, parents of Year 7 children had the opportunity to swap roles with their children for the day. They attended each of their child’s classes for the day and completed whatever activities were expected in that class. I was teaching PE at the time, and having a class of not-so-fit parents running around the gym was definitely an experience for us all!
I was thinking about this recently and considering trying a similar day at Kuyper. It would be great to give parents the opportunity to experience life as a student at Kuyper for a day: what to write, where to write it, following structured routines for classes and having set times to eat and go to the bathroom.
However, I would call it ‘Walk a Day in your Child’s Shoes’. What the parents and Year 7 children did at Trinity was not a genuine swap. Yes, the parents took the place of their children, but the children did not take the place of their parents. No child got the car keys, went off to work, did the shopping or came home and managed the household. It was not a genuine swap.
Reflecting on this over Easter, I am reminded of the profound significance of Jesus’ genuine swap on the cross.
One of the most significant Bible verses for me as I have navigated through life’s challenges is 2 Corinthians 5:21.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This verse encapsulates the message of Easter – Jesus took on our sinfulness in full and then offered us his perfect standing before God. It was a genuine swap – our sin, condemnation, and punishment swapped for Jesus’ holiness, relationship with God, and eternal life.
How amazing is the true story of Easter! How awesome is what Jesus did for us!
May you always remember that Jesus has offered to swap places with you, to take your sin and give to you his righteousness. How worthy of celebration, praise and worship is Jesus!