Groundhog Day hit theaters in 1993 when I was a senior in high school. It became an instant classic and eventually a cult favorite, still resonating with audiences 27 years later! It’s the story of an arrogant, self-centered weatherman named Phil Connors (Bill Murray) who finds himself waking up and reliving the same day over and over again. That day was Feb. 2, Groundhog Day. 

Scrambling to cope with reality, Phil sees the endless day as an opportunity to pursue pleasure—without consequences. He indulges in every vice imaginable. Robbing banks, chasing women, drunkenness, gluttony. But that leaves him empty, dissatisfied and depressed. Helpless to end the cycle, he takes matters into his own hands and tries to end his life—multiple times—only to wake up and relive the same day. 

So he tries a new approach: Self-discovery. He explores his own interests, chases hobbies, and pursues education. That includes learning French, adopting ice-sculpting, becoming an expert pianist, and dominating Double Jeopardy. Phil wants to find himself and impress others in the process. 

But he can’t find the freedom he longs for and escape the monotony of his holiday time trap. The fun has worn off. Up to this point in the film Phil has viewed this never-ending day as something for him, and views others as a nuisance; or worse, an obstacle.   

The plot turns when Phil realizes he was so absorbed in his own interests he failed to notice people all around him who needed help—his help. Suffering people, sick people, depressed and lonely people, helpless people. He sees them! 

And from that point, Phil Connors is on a mission to serve the people of Punxsutawney. He feeds a homeless man on the street. He catches a boy falling from a tree. He saves the mayor from choking to death. He changes an old lady’s flat tire. He uses his hobbies to enrich and entertain the town. And in the process, Phil finally discovers the purpose of his day—to serve others. You might even say to love others.

And when Phil finally “gets it right,” the spell is broken, Groundhog Day ends, and he moves on with a new girlfriend and a town that reveres him. THE END. 

The movie was designated a comedy, but it’s also a fantasy. Not only because there’s no such thing as a Groundhog Day curse, but because if there were, we’d never “get it right.” Nobody has ever “gotten it right.” And truth be known, another chance or in Phil’s case another day is not what we need. We need a stand-in. Someone who can represent us and live the perfect day. But that won’t be enough. We need more than a perfect day. We need a perfect life. And we’ll need our flawed record expunged too…  

Above all, I can’t help but label Groundhog Day as a tragedy. Not because it’s overly sad or morose. No, the tragedy is that many people—maybe most people—view their life and relationship to God in a similar way. “Eventually, I’ll figure out what life is for and reach enlightenment.” Or maybe “At some point, I’ll do enough good deeds, change flat tires, catch falling boys, feed the homeless…and God will accept me.” But the truth is you WON’T. You CAN’T. And if your life or good deeds is what you’re hoping in, you’re going to face a worse curse than a holiday time trap when the curtain falls. 

Ready for the good news? I was wrong earlier when I said nobody has ever “gotten it right.” Someone did. Just one. Jesus got it “perfect.” He loved God perfectly. He served others perfectly. He lived the perfect day we’ll never achieve. He lived the flawless life we could never hope to complete. And he offers it to us for free. That’s grace. And the best news in the world? He is not only a stand-in for us in giving us His righteous life. He’s a substitute to take the penalty we’ve earned for blowing it over and over again. 

That’s some exchange! The righteous for the unrighteous! That’s what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote “For our sake, God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Who’s he talking about? Jesus!   

Hear the best part? “For our sake.” That’s the gospel. His life for ours. Have you came to terms with that reality? Have you came clean with God and acknowledged your soiled efforts to please Him on your own—apart from the finished work of Jesus? Have you trusted Jesus and distrusted yourself?

That’s when the curse ends. You can’t break it yourself. The harder you try the further you’ll fall. Jesus offers us the only way of escape—through His life, death and resurrection.

To listen to "The Great Exchange" sermon, click here.