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Pope
Francis washes – and kisses – the feet of a young offender at a detention
center in Rome last Thursday.
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For
I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ
died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that
he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
1
Corinthians 15:3, 4
Read
Genesis 22:1-18
Trust is key to the journey with God. Later
writers will cite Abraham’s trust in God, proved in his actions, as a faith
worth emulating.
This
story of near-miss child sacrifice, captured in Genesis 22, parallels the gospel remarkably. At least three elements of the story in
Genesis anticipate the gospel:
1. An
only son
Isaac is Abraham’s “only son,
whom he loves.”
For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
2. Atonement
by sacrifice
Atonement is the
reconciliation of alienated parties by making amends, blotting out offenses,
and giving satisfaction for wrongs done.
Christ’s death on the cross satisfies the just wrath of a holy God
against the sins of everyone who trusts in him, so that our relationship with God is fully restored (see Romans 5, especially verse 10).
3. A
substitute
The Lord provides a ram for
sacrifice instead of the chosen son. In
the same way, Jesus offers his life as a substitute for God’s chosen ones (that is, we who are his children by faith).
And
in verses 17 & 18, God’s fourfold promise is confirmed:
1. God’s
blessing, specifically, the presence of God in protection and guidance: “I will
surely bless you.”
2. A
seed, that is, descendants: “I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars
of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.”
3. A
land, an inheritance, yet with a view to the whole world: “And
your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.”
4. Blessing
that extends to all nations through the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob/Israel): “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be
blessed.”
All this, because Abraham proves his faith in his
actions: "because
you have obeyed my voice.”
As
God acts in history, and the Kingdom of God in Christ became present in Word
and in deed, God confirms his promise with his word.
All of history
points to Christ. It’s God’s history; His-story, and you (yes you) are part of his plan.
In
what key area of your life is God calling you to prove your faith, to prove your
confidence in him?
ü Maybe
it is an ethical question you are facing at work.
ü It
might be a moral issue in your private life.
ü It
could be that God is saying to you that now is the time to express your faith
in Him by what you say.
ü Or
there is something you need to do – action, and now is the time to prove
it.
Christ’s
actions include his sinless and obedient life, his death, his burial, his resurrection and the pouring out of His Spirit on his people soon after. God explains -- he interprets -- these actions in
history by his Word. The kingdom,
present in word and in deed, continues… with you.
How is God calling you to prove your faith, and demonstrate the presence of the Kingdom today?
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