TheFathersFreeingSacrificeOfHisSonGen22

Judica, Fifth Sunday In Lent                   6-April-2025
Sermon Text: Genesis 22:1-14
Sermon Theme: “The Father’s Freeing Sacrifice of His Son!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Joh 8:47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." Jesus preached in the Temple. It was the festival of booths. A week when the Jews would camp out around Jerusalem. Living in tents to remember the forty years of their ancestors exodus. Refusing to hear God’s Word preached through Moses. Rebelling against God’s promise that generation choose to die in the wilderness. Satan snatched God’s Word away tempting them to trust in what they saw, what they could do, rather than trust God’s promise and might to deliver their enemies into their hands.
      Every Sunday the divine service reminds us that we are only pilgrims and strangers in this world. Our abiding city isn’t here. Of Abraham and Sarah scripture testifies, Heb 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14) For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (15) And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” You may be a native of Tell City, Evanston, Cannelton, Gatchel, or Troy, but they aren’t truly your home, Christian. Our home is Jerusalem above - Christ’s Kingdom - His Church Triumphant - the Life of the World to come.
    Every Sunday, we - who are of God - birthed His own beloved children by baptism, joyfully gather together hearing God’s Word. In the Divine Service Home comes to us. Jesus draws near speaking His Word. Broken sinners are forgiven by His Word. God the Holy Spirit strengthens through the Truth of Jesus life, death, resurrection, ascension, ruling, and second coming for us. Freed from the father of lies - the devil and his murderous plots. The Spirit of Truth fixes our eyes and hearts on Jesus - the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Home is here. Jesus really serves us His homecoming meal. He is Host and feast. He places salvation into the very mouth of our bodies in bread and wine at His Table.
    Six months before Passover was forever fulfilled, Jesus preached to the Jews in the Temple the heart of Abraham’s faith - Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." In the historical account of Genesis 22 the heart and center of Abraham’s faith shines. He is righteous trusting only in: “ “The Father’s Freeing Sacrifice of His Son!”
      The Flood destroyed the world which once was in the days of Noah. We are witnessing the destructive power of water after a week of rain in our area. The reality of Noah’s flood is recorded in our rock layers, coal seams, and the fossil record - millions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the earth. Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
    The Lord God blessed Shem, son of Noah, promising the Messiah from his descendants. Sadly the fallen angel, the devil, the Liar stole God’s Word from Shem’s descendants. As the white devil he promised a new spirituality leading them into mis-belief, shame, vice. Soon Satan whispered man made religions appealing to fleshly desires were adopted. They surrendered the Truth for the Lie. Out of this debauchery the Lord God called Abram, Terah’s son, to leave family and journey to the land of Canaan to preserve the promise. It may be that Shem, who lived to be 500 years old, is the preacher whom the Lord God spoke the promise to Abram. He called him to leave the wicked land of his ancestors. The promise of the Seed of the woman Who would crush Satan’s head and rescue us from the murderer and father of lies. The Spirit of Truth teaches, Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "AND TO YOUR SEED," who is Christ.
      God’s timing is not our timing. Abram was 75 years old when the Lord called him to wander in the land of Canaan. His wife Sarai remained barren - no children were given them. Another 25 years pass. It seemed impossible for a 90 year old woman and a 100 year old man to begin a family. The Lord visits them. Speaking His Word of promise they are given new names - “Sarai” is now “Sarah” - “princess;” “Abram” is now “Abraham”- “the father of many nations.” Nine months later Sarah’s dead womb and Abraham’s aged body - their son Isaac is born. His name means “laughter”, filling them with joy.
      At least 20 years pass, perhaps 33 years. Abraham is now 133 and Isaac grew fully into manhood at 30. God the Father’s heart is revealed. (Vs.1-2) Next Sunday holy week begins with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We’ll focus on what it cost Jesus to fully pay the price of our rebellion freeing us from Satan, sin, and the fear of death - we forget what it cost God our Father.
      God calling Abraham to sacrifice his only son echoes our heavenly Father’s sacrifice for us sinners. A father’s calling is to protect their wife and children. It breaks a dad’s heart to see his child suffering, and it is shattered if his son dies. If a child is injured in an accident a father is crushed thinking he could’ve prevented it. What if God called you to be the immediate cause of your child’s death? To sacrifice your son? What would you do? What would you feel? Here you glimpse the heart of our Heavenly Father shattered to save sinners. (Vs.3–5) Abraham obeys. He will fulfill God’s Word even though it makes no reasonable sense. Rising early he prepares all for the death of his beloved boy. The journey to Moriah with his beloved son Isaac and two servants begins.
      God the Father walked with His only begotten Son - Jesus journeying to Moriah for our salvation. 33 years earlier the angel choirs sang to lowly Bethlehem shepherds, Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" St. Paul preaches, 2Co 5:19 ... God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Three years earlier John, the priest and baptizer, washed our sins onto Jesus in baptism. He declares Him - the Lamb of God the Sacrifice for the sins of the world. God the Father beams, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Satan tried to break the Man Jesus’ trust in His heavenly Father tempting Him for forty days in the wilderness. Jesus- the Second Adam- only worshiped and served His Father’s good and gracious will - to save sinful and lost mankind.
      Trusting the Heavenly Father’s heart and promise to save us sinners - through a flesh and blood descendant of Isaac. Abraham tells his servants, “we will go to worship” and “we will come back to you.” “Heb 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," (19) concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” Abraham trusted in God the Father’s heart beating with life and truth. Satan is the Liar - The Murderer -the father of the fallen steals and destroys life. God our True Father brings life to us in flesh and blood of His only begotten Son. (Vs.6) Abraham’s heart must’ve broken placing the wood that would consume the flesh of his only son upon Isaac’s shoulders. God the Father’s heart tore as He laid the wood of the cross upon His only begotten Son through the hands of the Romans. Jesus would pay our price once for all. His sacrifice wins us back from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil to be forever reconciled to our God and Father.
    Isaac trusts his father’s word. Abraham and Sarah raised Isaac to hear God’s Word - trust it - believe it - cling only to His Word and promise in the Messiah to come. (Vs.7-9) Isaac is silent, like a sheep before its shearers is silent, he opens not his mouth. The seriousness of this sacrifice written upon his father’s face - finally he breaks the silence with one question. “Where is the sacrificial lamb?” Abraham simply tells him, “The Lord will provide the sacrifice - my son.” They climb Mount Moriah - a hill later called Zion - on it the city of Jerusalem - the Temple will be built and on of its ridges is named the Place of the Skull - Golgotha in Aramaic, Calvary in Greek. The son trusts his father’s word and work. Abraham builds the altar of uncut stones laying the wood in order. Telling Isaac what God demands - Isaac doesn’t oppose his father’s will - he trusts God’s good gracious will and His Word spoken by his father. Isaac is willingly to be sacrificed.
    Isaac reflects Jesus’ heart. Six months before Jesus carried the wood of the cross up Mount Moriah He preached, Joh 8:42 , "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.” As the Passover is fulfilled in Jesus He tells Philip, Joh 14:9-11 , "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (11) Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” Isaac’s heart and Abraham’s were knit together as one in God’s promise in Christ. Jesus trusts His Father’s will. In Gethsemane shouldering the hellish cost of our redemption He prays Luk 22:42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
    Now Abraham reaches down taking the knife from the ground to complete the sacrifice Isaac willingly makes trusting firmly in God’s Promise spoken by his father. (Vs.10-12) Isaac didn’t die. The Angel of the Lord - Jesus preincarnate - stops the Sacrifice He alone must make! Here Abraham sees His day - the day the sacrifice for us sinners will find its fulfillment in His flesh and blood - Good Friday. Abraham rejoices to see it. His heart is filled with gladness as the Holy Spirit strengthens his faith in Jesus alone.
      God the Father didn’t stop the sacrifice of His only begotten Son - the Sacrifice is completed in Jesus’ cross. (Vs.13-14) On Moriah a Substitute is provided for Isaac. A ram with a thorny crown caught in the thorn bushes of our sin - the Lamb of God crowned with the thorns of Adam’s curse - my curse - your curse - Jesus pours out His holy precious life giving blood for you! Your price is paid - you are redeemed! Jesus gives His sinless flesh to be sin for us that we might be reconciled to our God and Father by His sacrificed body and blood - given and shed for you - you are forgiven in Him. In the Mount of the Lord salvation is provided!
      Abraham’s faith is the same faith given and sealed to you by the Holy Spirit in baptism - Hear God’s Word - Rejoice always in The Father’s Freeing Sacrifice of His Son!“ Come to Calv'ry's holy mountain, Sinners, ruined by the fall; Here a pure and healing fountain Flows for you, for me, for all, In a full, perpetual tide, Opened when our Savior died.”(James Montgomery, 1771-1854 LSB 435) . Amen