A Word from God's Word

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” John 8:56

LAST WEEK IN THIS SPACE, we considered how the covenant that God made with the great Old Testament patriarch, Abraham, included the promise that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). And we noted—as with all of God’s promises—that this promise was fulfilled. And it was fulfilled in Christ. For the gospel call of salvation in Christ goes out to all peoples and nations; “whosoever will, may come” (Revelation 22:17).

And this week, we fast forward from the time of that promise to Abraham to the time of its fulfillment in Christ. Jesus makes a remarkable statement in John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

From the vantage point of about 2000 years previously, Abraham foresaw the coming of Christ as the One in whom “all the families of the earth would be blessed”. And Abraham rejoiced. Likewise, in Genesis 22, “Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide” for he understood in Christ, God would provide a once-for-all sacrifice for sin. Likewise, today, a reader of the Old Testament can see that the sacrifices, the Temple, the Passover, and so much more, all point to Christ and have their fulfillment in Him. He is the theme of Scripture; He is the One being pointed to. Thus, read, see Christ and embrace Him by faith.

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".