A Dress Rehearsal For Calvary
June 7, 2018 Save Article"
Hebrews 11:17-19, Genesis 22:1-14
(RA-2394, Program: 2318, Air date: 06.10.18)
- INTRODUCTION
- There is no other book like the Bible.
- It is one book, yet contains 66 books.
- 39 Old Testament books
- 27 New Testament books
- These books were written over a period of about 1500 years by at least 40 different authors in three different languages.
- Yet, together, they are not 66 separate books; they make one complete book.
- The Bible has one hero: the Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Bible has one villain: the devil.
- The Bible has one theme: salvation.
- The Bible has one purpose: the glory of God.
- It is one book, yet contains 66 books.
- Wherever you read in the Bible, you will find the Lord Jesus standing in the shadows.
- We see the Lord Jesus in the life of Abraham, centuries before Jesus Christ was born upon the Earth.
- Hebrews 11:17-19
- The word figure means a type, an illustration.
- God gave in the Old Testament illustrations, prophecies, figures of that which was to come in the New Testament.
- This is one of the great confirmations of the inspiration of the Scriptures.
- This is also a confirmation of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- When Abraham and Isaac went up Mount Moriah in Genesis 22, it was a dress rehearsal for Calvary.
- This account in Genesis 22 is a prophecy and an Old Testament portrait of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- John 8:56
- Galatians 3:8
- There is no other book like the Bible.
- THE SPECIAL PERSON WHO IS DESCRIBED (Genesis 22:1-2)
- The person who is described is Isaac.
- Genesis 22:1-2
- Isaac, the son of Abraham, was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Isaac’s miracle birth was prophesied.
- Genesis 18:9-14
- Jesus Christ was born of a miracle, and His birth was also prophesied.
- Isaiah 7:14
- Isaac’s birthday was preset.
- God told Abraham and Sarah that Isaac would be born at a set time.
- Genesis 21:1-2
- The Lord Jesus also came into this world at a set time.
- Galatians 4:4
- God told Abraham and Sarah that Isaac would be born at a set time.
- Isaac’s name was divinely given.
- Genesis 17:19
- Jesus’ name was divinely given.
- Matthew 1:21
- Isaac was conceived of a miracle.
- Genesis 18:14
- Jesus was conceived of a miracle.
- Luke 1:34, 37
- Isaac was loved of his father and was counted as Abraham’s only beloved son.
- Genesis 22:2
- Genesis 22:16
- Jesus is the beloved and only begotten Son of God.
- John 3:16
- John 5:20
- Isaac was offered up as a sacrifice.
- Genesis 22:2
- God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins
- John 3:16
- Isaac was figuratively raised from the dead.
- Genesis 22:4
- Three days passed from the time that God told Abraham to sacrifice his son until he saw Mt. Moriah.
- For three days in the heart and mind of Abraham, Isaac was as dead.
- Hebrews 11:19
- The Lord Jesus Christ was three days and three nights in the grave.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
- Genesis 22:4
- Isaac’s miracle birth was prophesied.
- The person who is described is Isaac.
- THE SPECIFIC PLACE THAT IS DESIGNATED (Genesis 22:2)
- God directed Abraham to take Isaac to a particular place, Mt. Moriah.
- Genesis 22:4
- Psalm 24:1
- Psalm 2:6
- This place, Mt. Moriah, was not incidental or accidental; is the same place where Jesus would one die on the cross for our sins.
- Moriah means Foreseen of the Lord.
- Luke 23:33
- God directed Abraham to take Isaac to a particular place, Mt. Moriah.
- THE PURPOSE THAT IS DESIGNATED ( Genesis 22:2)
- This speaks of the cross.
- God instructed Abraham to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice in the same place that Jesus was to die.
- Genesis 22:4-8
- As they started up Moriah, father and son came to a point beyond which the others could not go.
- This pictures dark Gethsemane as the Lord Jesus went alone to commune with the Father.
- Isaac’s heart and mind must have been exceedingly troubled.
- Genesis 22:9
- This was to be a burnt offering.
- Isaac saw that his father had the fire or a torch, the wood and a knife.
- Yet, there was no lamb for the sacrifice.
- Isaac likely began to understand that he was to be the sacrifice.
- Isaac at this time was no longer a young child, but most likely a teenage boy.
- Abraham was well over 100 years at this point.
- Isaac could have easily outrun his father or overpowered him, but he presents himself to be bound.
- John 10:18
- Matthew 27:42
- The scoffers were wrong; Jesus chose not to save Himself.
- Genesis 22:6
- The wood is a symbol of humanity.
- The wood of our wickedness was laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Isaac bore the wood going up this mountain that Jesus would one day die on.
- John 19:17
- Abraham carries with him a knife, a torch and ropes.
- The knife speaks of the bleeding power of sin.
- The torch, or fire, speaks of the burning power of sin.
- The cord speaks of the binding power of sin.
- The wood is a symbol of humanity.
- THE PROMISE THAT IS DECLARED (Genesis 22:11-14)
- At this point, the figure changes.
- Isaac was not sacrificed because one day Jesus Christ would be.
- Isaac now represents us, and there is a ram caught in the thicket.
- Isaac gets up off the altar, and the ram is slain in his stead.
- God provided a ram whose horns were caught in a thicket of thorns.
- A ram crowned with thorns.
- God provided Himself a lamb.
- John 1:29
- God did not provide a lamb for Himself; He provided Himself a lamb.
- God becomes the lamb.
- When Abraham saw what God did, he named the place Jehovah-Jireh meaning “The Lord will provide.”
- Romans 8:32
- If God gave Jesus for us, there isn’t anything He would withhold from us.
- He is the God who provides.
- If God gave the one great gift, He’s going to give all of the other good gifts.
- At this point, the figure changes.
- CONCLUSION
- God loves us so much that He did not spare His own Son on our behalf.
- Acts 16:31
- God desires that you be saved today.
- Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.
- Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 10:9-10
- Romans 10:13
- Acts 16:31
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