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Listen to the latest message from XP Church, where gamers all over the world are learning to win together in Christ.
June 2, Nintendo Switch two drops, and people are already beginning to wonder the question, will this be the greatest Switch of all time? Is the great is the Nintendo Switch one actually beatable by the Nintendo Switch two? It's gonna have some upgrades. It's gonna be a little bit better, but will it actually be the greatest Switch of all time? What if I told you that the greatest Switch of all time wasn't actually made by Nintendo, but actually rather was made by God?
That's why today, I wanna bring a message that I've entitled the savior's switch and talk through on this Easter weekend what I believe to be the greatest switch of all time. Now as you study the life of Jesus, you begin to see that Jesus made many switches in his life. You'll see that Jesus literally did miracles in supernatural switches where he switched blind eyes into eyes that could be able to see. By simply just the utterance of his words, he switched out women's barren wounds to wounds that could give birth. He switched sickness for healing, and, ultimately, he switched death for life.
But around this Easter season, what I wanna talk through today is I wanna talk through what I believe are three of the greatest switches of all time done by Jesus to showcase what he did to save humanity from their sins on this Easter weekend. One of the greatest switches, I think, that Jesus ever did is Jesus switched places with Barabbas. Now to give a little context to someone that may not know this story, there's a man might but there's a name by name there's a man by the name of Barabbas. Sheesh, I need you just to resurrect my ability to speak. Come on, somebody.
There's a man by the name of Barabbas in the bible who was guilty. He was a murderer, a thief, a liar. This man is actually guilty of the crimes that he's being accused of. And on this holy day, you are a actually able to let one of these actually, like, convicted criminals go free. But in this special occasion, a man by the name of Pontius Pilate presents both Jesus and this evil Barabbas to the public and says, I will let you switch.
If you guys really want, I will let Jesus switch places with Barabbas, and this guilty man Barabbas can go free, and y'all can actually crucify and kill Jesus. And with this context in place, this is where we pick up in Matthew chapter twenty seven eleven to 26, we will read about what I believe is this beautiful switch that Jesus makes with Barabbas. Read this with me. Verse 11 starting off. Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, are you the king of the Jews?
You have said so. Jesus replied, when he was accused by the chief priest and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate, again, he's the one who's presenting the switch to these people. Pilate asked him, don't you hear the testimony they're bringing against you? Don't you hear what they're saying about you?
But Jesus made no reply, not even a single charge to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor's custom at this fest a festival to be able to release a prisoner to the crowd, like I mentioned, that they got to choose. At that time, they had a well known prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, which one do you want me to release to you? Jesus or Barabbas?
It's Jesus who was called messiah. For he knew it was out of self interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this very important message. Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. She's like, don't don't mess around with this Jesus guy.
Like, he's innocent. Like, you just need to get out of this situation. Don't have anything to do with this innocent man. For I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him. But the chief priest and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
Which of the two do you want me to release to you? Asked the governor. Barabbas, they answered. The crowd starts screaming. We want you to switch Jesus for Barabbas.
What shall I do then? Who who is this Jesus they call Messiah? Pilate asked. They all answered, crucify him. Switch Jesus for Barabbas.
Why? What crime has he committed? Asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, crucify him. Switch Jesus for Barabbas.
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took the water and he washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man's blood, he said. This is your responsibility. And all the people answered. His blood is on us and on our children.
Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged in hand over to be crucified. Now when you read this passage, you're like, yeah, pastor, I thought this I thought we were talking about the savior switch. I thought we were talking about, like, Jesus switching. This this isn't the doing of Jesus. Clearly, this was actually the will of the people.
The people chose to switch Jesus for Barabbas. But when you study the Easter story in the life of Jesus, what you will see time and time and time again is Jesus literally verbally saying, nobody takes my life from me. I lay it down willingly. Jesus stands by. We even read where Jesus is talking to Pilate, and Pilate is like, hey.
These people are saying you're guilty. Like, do you have anything to say to yourself? And it literally says to Pilate's amazement, Jesus said nothing. He stood there and let him be falsely accused even though he knew he was innocent. Why?
Because he knew they need to switch me for Barabbas. You see, this may have been a vote done by the people, but I need you to understand that this sacred switch was the will of God. It was God's desire to switch Barabbas for Jesus. Why? Because Barabbas, although this is a real event, whether people are here today and maybe they've decided they believe in Jesus or not, regardless, this is a historical event that no reputable scholar would deny that the switching of Jesus for Barabbas this is not a fictional event.
This is a real historical event that this switch took place. However, it also symbolizes more than just Barabbas. Because, friends, I've come to tell you today, in the same way that Barabbas was guilty of sin, so are you and I. It may not be the same types. The stories might not be the exact same, but can I tell you something?
Jesus switching places with Barabbas is like Jesus switching places with you and switching places with me. It was the will of God that Jesus would take the place of Barabbas so that, like the verse said, that Jesus co could go on to then be whipped and crucified. Why? So that the sins of the world could be forgiven because Jesus paid the price in our place. There was a debt to be paid.
A crime had been committed. Time had to be done, but God loved you and I so much that he switched places with you. God had to switch Jesus and Barabbas, Barabbas who deserved to be treated like a criminal, and Jesus, who deserved to be treated like royalty. God had to switch these places so that he could treat Barabbas like Jesus deserved to be treated. Barabbas, although a criminal, Jesus made the switch so that Barabbas, if he would turn his life to follow Jesus, could be treated like royalty.
But he had to treat Jesus like a criminal so he could treat the criminal like royalty. The sacred switch of Jesus is not that he just switched places with Barabbas, but that he switched places with you When he died on the cross to forgive humanity of our sin, this is the savior's switch, that he stood in our place. He paid our debt. He took the punishment that I deserved, and he bore it on the cross so that you and I could be forgiven. This is the savior switch.
Another incredible switch that Jesus did on the behalf of humanity. Let's check this. Jesus switched the eternity of the thief. When Jesus is actually up on the cross, he's actually not alone. Not only was there a crowd of people around him, but there was actually two other criminals, convicted criminals, hanging on the cross next to him.
And this is the conversation that breaks up between the three of them. Luke twenty three thirty nine to 43. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Jesus. Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us.
But the other criminal, this is one criminal on a cross mocking Jesus, and then the other criminal on the other side speaks up and says, don't you fear God? He said, since you are under the same sentence, meaning all of us are getting crucified right now, but we are being punished justly, meaning we actually did what they're accusing us of. For we're getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him.
Look at this. This is the switch. Truly, I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise. Before this moment where this man repents and decides to put his trust in Jesus, his current place of eternity was gonna be separate from God, but then Jesus made the switch and switched eternity separate from God to eternity with God, from punishment to paradise. He invited this thief into the kingdom of God and made the switch.
But now here's the here's the dilemma that people are having with the qualifications of the new Nintendo Switch that's coming out on June 5. Did you know that in order to qualify for the new Nintendo Switch, check this, you have to have an active Nintendo account. You have to also have had an active Nintendo online membership for at least the past twelve months. And then on top of that, you have to have accumulated at least 50 of total gameplay before 04/02/2025, which is already passed, so you're already too late if you didn't get the cut. Qualifications after qualifications after qualifications.
You have to do all of these things if you're gonna wanna get a switch. And when it comes to the Christian faith, when it comes to being able to go to heaven, people often ask, what do I gotta do? What are the qualifications? Just like I have to have all these certain hours, and and I have to pay a certain price, and I gotta give Nintendo my money. What are all the things that I have to do to be able to make it into heaven?
But in this passage, yeah, we see there's literally a thief on the cross. Never went to church. Never read the Bible. Never, like, got his life together. Had no opportunity water baptized.
Had no opportunity to fulfill what people would think are the qualifications to get to heaven. But what we see in this moment is that Jesus is sharing with us what our qualifications really are. The Bible says if you just believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, you can be saved. You can make the switch. This thief on the cross, in real time, simply chooses to put his trust.
And this is a convicted criminal. He just literally admitted, I'm actually guilty. I did what they said I did. I did lie. I did cheat.
I did steal. I am a thief, but not because of my qualifications, but not because of what I can do for god, but rather what god can do for me. I can make the switch from eternity separate from god to eternity with God, and Jesus said, today, you will be with me in paradise. The third and final switch is we celebrate this ultimate respond of Jesus. Is that Jesus come on.
This is where you gotta get excited. Jesus switched from dead to resurrected. After three days, although, yes, Jesus endured a gruesome death on the cross. After three days on that beautiful Sunday, the Bible says that Jesus rose from the grave, showcasing that he is alive and active, and that no hell, no grave, no death can overcome him. Read this with me.
Matthew twenty eight one through six. After the Sabbath, at the dawn of the first day of the week being Sunday, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. They went to look at the tomb where they had buried Jesus. And then there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven going to the tomb, and the stone it was this big circular stone that was blocking the entrance. The angel rolled back the stone and then sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. And the guards were so afraid of him that they shook and they became like dead men. They actually passed out. The angel then said to the women, don't be afraid. These women were coming to see a dead Jesus.
Oh my goodness. But he says, for I know that, look, you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. But here's the newest DLC. Here's the newest patch notes. He is not here.
He has risen. And to even make it more boss, just like he said he would, before Jesus even died, he literally told his friends, yo, by the way, I'm gonna die, and I'm gonna come back to life. And they were like, yeah. I don't think so, Jesus. And then the angel's like, yo.
You realize, like, he told you he was gonna do this. Right? Like, he's risen just as he said. He made the switch from dead to resurrected, showcasing that he is not any other religious figure. He is not just a man.
He is God, that there is nothing that can stop him, nothing that can overcome him. And, friends, I've come to declare to you in the mighty name of Jesus that whatever it is that you're facing, that whatever it is that you're going through, if Jesus can overcome death, he can overcome the struggles in your life. Jesus is alive today. We're not worshiping and celebrating a dead figure who's in a tomb. There are plenty of other religious figures that with all due respect, their god is still in a tomb that we can visit and we can worship if we choose.
And if that's your choice, we we respect it. But here's the deal. I don't wanna worship a dead god. I wanna serve a living god who is alive and active, And Jesus today has respond. And friends, Jesus made the switch so that you could make the switch, the switch from death to life, the switch from bondage to freedom, the switch from being lost to being found, the switch from being a spiritual orphan to being a child of God, the switch from endless anxiety to perfect peace, the switch from sinfulness to righteousness, the switch from being lost to being found, from shame to forgiveness, the switch from eternity separate from God to eternity with God.
And how? By simply switching, by saying, Jesus, I am gonna switch from going my own way of sin to switch to following Jesus. I'm gonna switch from wanting to keep full control of my life and switch to saying, Jesus, I give you control of my life. And here's the deal, friends. This is the celebration of not just Easter, but the pinnacle of Christian faith, that Jesus made the switch for you.
The savior's switch, friends, is that Jesus stood in your place, is that Jesus offers you a switch of eternity when he switched from death to life. And so my prayer today, if you're here and you're a follower of Jesus, your life should be a life of celebration. Why? Because even in the minute even in the moments of death and difficulty, resurrection is around the corner. Jesus is able to resurrect even the most difficult of situations in our life.
And as follower of Jesus, my hope is that today just instills in you a desire to worship and thank God, that he made the savior switch for you because he loves you more than you could ever imagine. Friends, as we worship God in this Easter weekend, would you pray quickly with me as we thank God together? God, thank you. Thank you that you made the switch in my place. And so today, God, I'm just choosing, I'm making a conscious decision to make the switch to joy.
And no matter what I'm feeling, I wanna make the switch to worship. I wanna make the switch, God, to rejoice with my life that Jesus Christ is alive. Thank you that you made the switch for me. Thank you, Jesus, that you switched my place, that you switched my eternity by switching from dead to resurrected. Thank you that, God, we're serving a living savior.
Thank you that Jesus you died in our place. We honor you, we worship you, and we thank you for it in Jesus' name.