Behold the Lamb
Behold The Lamb
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29
Abraham is a paramount character in the Old and New Testaments. He is the first person that God would make a covenant with, that He would bless every nation through his family. Yet, in Jesus’ day, the leading religious elite thought very literally about that promise. They believed that one had to be a direct descendent of Abraham to receive the blessing promised in Genesis 12. However, in John 8, Jesus spoke of a Spiritual resurrection and a spiritual nation rather than a physical one. Jesus has implied that those who accept His words will not "taste death" (John 8:51) saying that even Abraham looked forward to His coming, that is, the coming of the lamb. (Isaiah 53:7-8)
Many scholars connect Genesis 22, the account of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Issac, to Jesus’ statement in John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” as Abraham seeing into, or fully understanding the plan of God. In many ways, Abraham ‘saw’ or spoke with The Word, and his faith was built on the belief and trust in that Word. He believed that God could raise the dead (Hebrews 11) and that God would provide a final sacrifice for people who could not provide for themselves. He saw the plan and had a glimpse into the future coming ‘day’ of Christ and rejoiced in it.
I have always seen Genesis 22 as a form of a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the final atonement of sin as there are many parallels to the final crucifixion. Most notably, Moriah is the same geographical location for both sacrifices. It was unlawful to execute anyone inside the city so the crucifixion of Christ had to be done outside the city and took place on a hill that some scholars believe was the same hill Issac was almost sacrificed on. How could a human orchestrate that detail into law and set up the city at that precise location in order to parallel this promise?
Read Genesis 22 Together. Where do you see a ‘Type of Christ’ in this text?
Many scholars connect Genesis 22, the account of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Issac, to Jesus’ statement in John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” as Abraham seeing into, or fully understanding the plan of God. In many ways, Abraham ‘saw’ or spoke with The Word, and his faith was built on the belief and trust in that Word. He believed that God could raise the dead (Hebrews 11) and that God would provide a final sacrifice for people who could not provide for themselves. He saw the plan and had a glimpse into the future coming ‘day’ of Christ and rejoiced in it.
I have always seen Genesis 22 as a form of a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the final atonement of sin as there are many parallels to the final crucifixion. Most notably, Moriah is the same geographical location for both sacrifices. It was unlawful to execute anyone inside the city so the crucifixion of Christ had to be done outside the city and took place on a hill that some scholars believe was the same hill Issac was almost sacrificed on. How could a human orchestrate that detail into law and set up the city at that precise location in order to parallel this promise?
Read Genesis 22 Together. Where do you see a ‘Type of Christ’ in this text?
Discussion Questions
Pastor Steve offered many ways that the story of Abraham and Isaac parallel the crucifixion of Christ. How many parallels can you find?
At the very beginning of Abraham's story (Genesis 12) What was the promise given to Abram? How does this promise foreshadow what God would do through Christ?
In Hebrews 11 Abraham appears in the “Hall of Faith” twice. What was he credited for there?
John 8:37-59 Jesus is critiqued by some Pharisees about Abraham. They believed that simply being in the bloodline of Abraham was sufficient. But Jesus spoke of a spiritual nation rather than a physical one. What did Jesus mean by “if you were the sons of Abraham you would do the work of Abraham?
God made a seemingly impossible promise to Abraham, what promises has God made to you that sometimes feel impossible? How can seeing these promises be fulfilled in scripture encourage you?
At the very beginning of Abraham's story (Genesis 12) What was the promise given to Abram? How does this promise foreshadow what God would do through Christ?
In Hebrews 11 Abraham appears in the “Hall of Faith” twice. What was he credited for there?
John 8:37-59 Jesus is critiqued by some Pharisees about Abraham. They believed that simply being in the bloodline of Abraham was sufficient. But Jesus spoke of a spiritual nation rather than a physical one. What did Jesus mean by “if you were the sons of Abraham you would do the work of Abraham?
God made a seemingly impossible promise to Abraham, what promises has God made to you that sometimes feel impossible? How can seeing these promises be fulfilled in scripture encourage you?
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