Christian Salvation: Abraham & Isaac (Genesis 22)

Christian Salvation:

Abraham & Isaac (Genesis 22)

Question: Was the death and resurrection of Jesus foretold in the Old Testament?

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Overview

Jesus taught that his death and resurrection were prophesied in the Old Testament (Matthew 12:38-41, Luke 18:31-34, 24:25-27 & 24:44-49). This means that God was preparing humanity for the coming of Jesus throughout the Old Testament. It should be noted that some references to Jesus in the Old Testament are specific and are expressed as direct prophecies whereas others are typological. Typological prophecy occurs when a person, institution, or event prefigures or points to a greater reality that is yet to come. In either case, Jesus is the climax of the Old Testament as Jesus fulfils what was said in the Law and Prophets (Matthew 5:17-18, John 1:43-51, 3:13-15, 5:39-40 & 5:45-47). The Apostolic Church also taught that the death and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

The following is an example of how God was preparing humanity in the Old Testament for the coming of Jesus.

Abraham & Isaac (Genesis 22)

The Request: In Genesis 22:1-2, God tests Abraham by asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. The sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham is a symbolic act that pictures the sacrifice of Jesus by God. It is the sacrifice of Father and Son. Just as Isaac is the beloved son of Abraham, Jesus is the Beloved Son of God (Matthew 3:13-17, 17:1-8, Mark 1:9-11, 9:2-8, Luke 3:21-22 & 9:28-36). Just as Isaac is the unique son of Abraham, Jesus is the Unique Son of God (John 1:14-18, 3:16-18 & 1 John 4:9-11). Just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac for God, God will sacrifice Jesus for humanity (John 3:16-18, Romans 3:21-26, 5:6-11, 8:31-32 & 1 John 4:9-11). It should be noted too that Mount Moriah (the place where Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac) later became the city of Jerusalem (the place where Jesus was sacrificed).

The Response: In Genesis 22:3-9, Abraham immediately responds to the instruction to sacrifice Isaac, and it takes three days for Abraham and Isaac to travel to the place of sacrifice. Just as the sentence of death was upon Isaac for three days, the sentence of death was upon Jesus for three days while Jesus was in the grave (Matthew 16:21-23, 17:22-23, 20:17-19, Mark 8:31-33, 9:30-32, 10:32-34, Luke 9:18-22, 18:31-34, 24:44-49 & John 2:13-22). Just as Abraham received Isaac back from the dead (figuratively speaking - Hebrews 11:17-19) on the third day when God withdrew His instruction to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God received Jesus back on the third day when God raised Jesus from the dead. Just as Abraham placed the sacrificial wood on Isaac and Isaac carried the wood to the place of sacrifice, God placed the sins of humanity upon Jesus and Jesus carried the wooden cross to the place of sacrifice (John 19:16-18). Just as Isaac submitted to Abraham, Jesus submitted to God the Father (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46 & John 12:20-36).

The Rescue: In Genesis 22:10-14, God prevents Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and God provides a ram to be sacrificed instead. When Isaac had earlier questioned Abraham about the absence of a sacrificial victim, Abraham responded by stating that God will provide a lamb (Genesis 22:8 - King James Version - "God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering"). On this occasion, however, God provided a ram rather than a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb that God provided for the sins of the world in fulfilment of the promise that Abraham made to Isaac (John 1:29-37, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, 1 Peter 1:18-19 & Revelation 5:1-14). This means that Jesus is both the fulfilment and completion of the story of Abraham and Isaac. It should be noted too that just as the ram’s horns were caught in a thicket shortly before its sacrificial death, the head of Jesus was pierced by a crown of thorns shortly before his sacrificial death (Matthew 27:27-31, Mark 15:16-20 & John 19:1-3). Abraham prophetically named the place of sacrifice: The Lord Will Provide.

The Promise: In Genesis 22:15-19, God promises that all nations and peoples will be blessed through Abraham’s act of obedience. It is significant that Abraham’s obedience was his willingness to sacrifice Isaac to God and God’s promise is to reciprocate Abraham. Just as Abraham did not withhold his son (Isaac) from God, God will not withhold His Son (Jesus) from humanity. Just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac for God, God will sacrifice Jesus for humanity (John 3:16-18, Romans 3:21-26, 5:6-11, 8:31-32 & 1 John 4:9-11). This is how the faith of Abraham will bless all nations as Abraham and Isaac prophetically enact the story of the Father and Son. In short, Jesus is the sacrificial son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1 & 28:16-20) and the fulfilment of the story of Abraham and Isaac.

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Bible Passages - Jesus & The Old Testament

Matthew 5:17-18

(17) Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (18) For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 12:38-41

(38) Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

(39) He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (40) For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (41) The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

See Matthew 16:1-4

(1) The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

(2) He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ (3) and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. (4) A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

Luke 18:31-34

(31) Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. (32) He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; (33) they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

(34) The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 24:25-27

(25) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:44-49

(44) He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

(45) Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (46) He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, (47) and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) You are witnesses of these things. (49) I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

John 1:43-51

(43) The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

(44) Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. (45) Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

(46) “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

(47) When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

(48) “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

(49) Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

(50) Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” (51) He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

John 3:13-15

(13) No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. (14) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, (15) that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

John 5:39-40

(39) You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, (40) yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 5:45-47

(45) But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. (46) If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. (47) But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?

Bible Passages - Jesus & Genesis 22

Genesis 22:1-19

(1) Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

(2) Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

(3) Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. (4) On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. (5) He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

(6) Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, (7) Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

(8) Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

(9) When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. (10) Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (11) But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

(12) “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

(13) Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. (14) So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

(15) The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time (16) and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, (17) I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, (18) and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

(19) Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

Matthew 1:1

(1) This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 3:13-17

(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. (14) But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

(15) Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” Then John consented.

(16) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (17) And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 16:21-23

(21) From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

(22) Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

(23) Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Matthew 17:1-8

(1) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (2) There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. (3) Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

(4) Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

(5) While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

(6) When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. (7) But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” (8) When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:22-23

(22) When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. (23) They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

Matthew 20:17-19

(17) Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, (18) “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death (19) and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Matthew 26:36-46

(36) Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (37) He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (38) Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

(39) Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

(40) Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. (41) “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(42) He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

(43) When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. (44) So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

(45) Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. (46) Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Matthew 27:27-31

(27) Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. (28) They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, (29) and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. (30) They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. (31) After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Matthew 28:16-20

(16) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (17) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. (18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 1:9-11

(9) At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10) Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. (11) And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 8:31-33

(31) He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. (32) He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

(33) But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Mark 9:2-10

(2) After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. (3) His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. (4) And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

(5) Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (6) (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

(7) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

(8) Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

Mark 9:30-32

(30) They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, (31) because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” (32) But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

Mark 10:32-34

(32) They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. (33) “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, (34) who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Mark 14:32-42

(32) They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (33) He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. (34) “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

(35) Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. (36) “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

(37) Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? (38) Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(39) Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. (40) When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

(41) Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. (42) Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Mark 15:16-20

(16) The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. (17) They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (19) Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. (20) And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Luke 3:21-22

(21) When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened (22) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 9:18-22

(18) Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

(19) They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

(20) “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

(21) Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. (22) And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Luke 9:28-36

(28) About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. (29) As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. (30) Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. (31) They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. (32) Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. (33) As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

(34) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. (35) A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (36) When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Luke 18:31-34

(34) The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 22:39-46

(39) Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. (40) On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

(41) He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, (42) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (43) An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (44) And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

(45) When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. (46) “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Luke 24:44-49

(44) He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

John 1:14-18

(14) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(15) (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) (16) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. (17) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (18) No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John 1:29-37

(29) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (30) This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ (31) I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

(32) Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. (33) And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ (34) I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

(35) The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. (36) When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (37) When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

John 2:13-22

(13) When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (14) In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. (15) So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (16) To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (17) His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

(18) The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

(19) Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

(20) They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” (21) But the temple he had spoken of was his body. (22) After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

John 3:16-18

(16) 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. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 12:20-36

(20) Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. (21) They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” (22) Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

(23) Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (24) Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (25) Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (26) Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (27) Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. (28) Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (29) The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

(30) Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. (31) Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. (32) And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (33) He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

(34) The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

(35) Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. (36) Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

John 19:1-3

(1) Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. (2) The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe (3) and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

John 19:16-18

(16) Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. (17) Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). (18) There they crucified him, and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Romans 3:21-26

(21) But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (22) This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (25) God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood - to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - (26) he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 5:6-11

(6) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. (8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(9) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (10) For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (11) Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 8:31-32

(31) What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

(6) Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? (7) Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (8) Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Hebrews 11:17-19

(17) By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, (18) even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” (19) Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

1 Peter 1:18-19

(18) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 John 4:9-11

(9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (11) Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Revelation 5:1-14

(1) Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. (2) And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (3) But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. (4) I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. (5) Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

(6) Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (7) He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. (8) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (9) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. (10) You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

(11) Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. (12) In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

(13) Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (14) The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.