Well, good morning, and it is amazing to be with you all this morning. Can we just celebrate an empty tomb today? Can we just take a moment and celebrate? Man for me, it is really awesome to be sharing with you this early morning. And as we saw in the series this morning, I also want to reveal an easter egg to you all. We have been seeing the last couple of services that what we thought what easter eggs is not always what it seems. Yes, egg means new life new and we are celebrating easter. But also that some content in the bible interacts with each other. And this morning I want to share the story of Abraham and Isaac and how it points to Jesus and the Father as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Genesis 22:1-6 (HCSB) 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he answered. 2 “Take your son,” He said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.
The story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac is one of the most well-known and significant stories in the Bible. Abraham was a man of great faith who lived in ancient Mesopotamia and is considered the father of the Jewish people and a key figure in the Christian and Islamic faiths.
According to the biblical account in Genesis 22, God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice on a mountain in the land of Moriah. This was a shocking and difficult request, as Isaac was the son through whom God had promised to bless Abraham and his descendants.
Despite the apparent contradiction between God's promise to make Isaac a great nation and his request for Abraham to sacrifice him, Abraham obeyed God's command without hesitation. He took Isaac up the mountain, built an altar, and prepared to offer his son as a sacrifice. This made no sense, and how does God promise one thing and then seem to take it away?
Just as Abraham was about to carry out the sacrifice, an angel of the Lord stopped him and provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. This obedience demonstrated Abraham's great faith and trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, even in the face of a seemingly impossible request.
Similarly, in the New Testament, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to become a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. This act of love demonstrated God's willingness to go to any lengths to reconcile humanity to himself, and it provided the ultimate expression of faith and obedience to God's will.
The correlation between these two stories highlights the consistency of God's character throughout the Bible and the depth of his love for his people. It also reminds us of the importance of faith and obedience in our relationship with God and of the ultimate provision he has made for us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Here is the hidden easter egg. I want to look at what is interesting to me. And I want to share it today.
So here is the first easter egg. It is this Sacrifice. In Genesis 22, we read about how God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. This was a difficult test; I want you to imagine this giving up your son. Can you imagine God asking you to send your son? Would we be able to do this? Abraham obeyed God and was willing to do what God asked of him. At the last moment, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram for the sacrifice instead.
This story foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Just as Abraham was willing to offer his son, God offered his son Jesus as a sacrifice for the world's sins. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice. He willingly gave his life so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. In doing so, he showed us the depth of God's love and the extent to which God was willing to go to save us.
As we think about sacrifice, let us remember the sacrifice of Abraham and Isaac and how it points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Let us be grateful for the sacrificial love of God and respond in faith and gratitude. Let us also be willing to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, as Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, given God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." May we live our lives in response to the sacrificial love of God, and may our lives reflect his love and grace to the world.
The 3rd easter egg is this: Obedience. Obedience is a complex but essential part of the Christian life. In Genesis 22, we read about how God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham's obedience in offering his son was an act of faith. He trusted that God knew what he was doing, even though it didn't make sense to him then.
This kind of obedience is what the Bible calls the obedience of faith. It's not blind obedience or following rules for the sake of following rules, but a response of trust and love for God. We see this kind of obedience in Jesus as well. In Philippians 2:5-8, we read, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
Jesus' obedience to the Father was an act of faith and love. He trusted the Father even in the face of suffering and death. He showed us the way of obedience, even when it's complicated. There is a significant lesson for us in the garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden, Jesus asked the Father to let this cup pass if possible. The difference is that he was a willing sacrifice. God has or is busy asking you to do things differently. To sacrifice things in our lives and to be obedient to His will. To sacrifice our lifestyle. Our ideas and plans for our lives.
Abraham got his son and was willing to sacrifice him to be obedient. Jesus was obedient to the Father’s will; are you obedient? Cause if we are not obedient, then today is just a celebration, and I know Jesus wants you to see the sacrifice He made for us, and we are called to live differently to the world.
As we think about obedience, let us remember the obedience of Abraham and Jesus. Let us trust God even when difficult and follow him in faith. Let us also remember that obedience is not something we can do on our own but a response to God's grace and love. May we be inspired by the obedience of faith and seek to follow Jesus in all that we do.
This brings me to my last easter egg, and it is a promise in a covenant.
For those who do not know a covenant, it is this: In biblical times, covenants were typically made between two parties. They were often sealed with a sacrifice or a meal and included promises and obligations for both parties. In the context of the Bible, God initiates the covenants, and he sets the terms of the agreement. Humans are invited to respond in faith and obedience.
In Genesis 17, we read about God's covenant with Abraham. God promised to bless him and his descendants, to give them a land of their own, and to be their God. This covenant was a promise of love and faithfulness God made with his people.
Similarly, Jesus made a covenant with his disciples at the Last Supper. Luke 22:20 says, "In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" Jesus' covenant was a promise of salvation and eternal life. It was a promise of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
God's covenant with Abraham and Jesus' covenant with his disciples show us that God is a faithful God who keeps his promises. He provides for his people, loves them, and is always with them. These covenants also show us that God's love and grace are available to all who believe and trust in Him.
As we think about the covenant, let us remember the promises of God. Let us remember that he is a faithful God who keeps his promises. Let us trust in His love and provision for us. And let us also remember that the new covenant in Jesus' blood is available to us all. May we receive God's love and grace with open hearts and live our lives in response to his covenant of love.
Faith is a key component of the Christian life. Through faith, we come to know God and receive his grace. Today, I want to talk about the faith of Abraham and how it can inspire us in our own faith journey.
In Hebrews 11, we read about the faith of Abraham. Verse 1 says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Abraham had faith in God's promises, even though he couldn't see them yet. He trusted that God would fulfil his promises, even when it seemed impossible.
Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. But even during this challenging situation, Abraham's faith remained strong. He believed that God would provide a way out and trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. We need to do the same we believe that Jesus has risen today. We did not physically see the resurrection, and to be honest. We would have been like the disciples and would not have believed.
So what does this faith look like? Well, let me give you this example.
Imagine a tightrope walker, high up in the air, balancing on a thin rope. This requires incredible faith and trust in their abilities and equipment. But what if the tightrope walker was blindfolded? That would require even more faith and trust. They couldn't see the rope's end or the platform they were trying to reach. All they could do was trust that the rope was secure and that they could make it to the other side.
Like this tightrope walker, we need to take a step in faith.
James 2:14-26 tells us that faith without works is dead. Abraham's faith was not just a matter of belief but also demonstrated in his actions. He showed his faith through his willingness to obey God, even when difficult. Guys, today we celebrate. Today we celebrate what Jesus has done and defeated, but we must take this faith and put it into action.
Abraham did not only talk about his faith. When God called on Him and tested Him, he acted out his faith. We need to do the same. We need to walk on this journey, but the good news is that we do not have to do it with our own strength. We do it in God’s strength. Why? Because of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit. We are in a new Covenant.
So I want to pray with you, and then as brothers and sisters in Christ, we will celebrate communion together. So I want to pray for those who already accepted Jesus as our saviour that we will look at the life of Abraham and Jesus and see how we as Christians must live. But I will also invite those who know Jesus is calling in their name to become your Lord and Saviour. I want to pray also that you will accept the invitation today.
Let us pray.
