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-Derrick Harris (askburb@gmail.com)
Monday, March 9, 2009
Did God Kill Jesus?
This question brought up an insightful discussion with our Jr. High Students. This post is an attempt to summarize a biblical response to this question.
This is a question of semantics. It really depends on what you mean by the word "kill"
Do I believe that God literally came down and "murdered" His one an d only son? Absolutely not.
Do I believe that the death of His son was planned before the foundation of the world? Yes.
I believe that God allowed and ordained the death (including the method of the death) of His one and only Son for those who believe, receive, and follow Him.
Acts 2:23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. Acts 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
God told us about His plan in such OT accounts as the story of Abraham and Isaac.
(taken from www.carm.org) Why did God tell Abraham to kill his son Isaac?
"Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' 2 And He said, 'Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you,'"(Gen. 22:1-2).
God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac because their actions are pointing ahead to the person of Christ in a typology of the true sacrifice. First of all, God says to Abraham to take his only son. But, we know that 13 years earlier Ishmael had been born to Abraham. So why would God call Isaac the only son? The answer becomes clear when we see what the Scriptures teach.
When Jesus was having a dialogue with the Jews, they accused him of being demon possessed. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 The Jews therefore said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:56-58). (Note that Jesus claimed divinity by referencing the divine name "I AM", see Exodus 3:14). Now, Jesus said that Abraham saw his day. What did Jesus mean by this? The answer is found in the following chart.
ISAAC: Genesis JESUS: Gospels
Only begotten Son Gen. 22:2 John 3:16
Offered on a mountain, hill Gen. 22:2 Matt. 21:10
Took donkey to place of sacrifice Gen. 22:3 Matt. 21:2-11
Two men went with him Gen. 22:3 Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33
Three day journey. Jesus: three days in the grave Gen. 22:4 Luke 24:13-21
Son carried wood on his back up hill Gen. 22:6 John 19:17
God will provide for Himself the lamb Gen. 22:8 John 1:29
Son was offered on the wood Gen. 22:9 Luke 23:33
Ram in thicket of thorns, crown of thorns Gen. 22:13 John 19:2
The seed will be multiplied Gen. 22:17 John 1:12; Isaiah 53:10
Abraham went down. Son didn't. Isaac is "not mentioned" Gen. 22:19 Luke 23:46
Servant, gets bride for son Gen. 24:1-4 Eph. 5:22-32; Rev. 21:2,9; 22:17
The bride was a beautiful virgin Gen. 24:16 2 Cor. 11:2
Servant offered ten gifts to bride Gen. 22:10 Rom. 6:23; 12; 1 Cor. 12
Let's examine the chart. Both Isaac and Jesus are called the only begotten son. Of course Abraham knew he had a son named Ishmael. But it was not Ishmael who was the son of the promised covenant; it was Isaac, (Gen. 17:19). That is why God called Isaac Abraham's only son. Plus, Isaac was representing the future Messiah Jesus was also called the only begotten son. Also, both Jesus and Isaac were offered on a hill and most scholars that I have read agree that it was the very same hill upon which they were both offered, though around 1800 years apart.
If you examine the chart you can see that there is a very close parallel between the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice of Jesus. Furthermore, you should be able to see that Abraham represented God the father. Isaac represented God the Son. And the servant represented the God the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice of Christ was typified in the sacrifice of Isaac.
So, why did Abraham offer his son Isaac? He did so out of obedience, believing that God could raise him from the dead (Heb. 11:19), and also in his obedience he acted out the true sacrifice of the true only begotten son, Jesus. (end www.carm.org)
So what? God had a plan to redeem His people (elect) from the consequence of sin through the death of His one and only Son. This plan precedes our existence. It did not catch God off guard. Jesus was born to die for us. It did not catch Jesus of guard. Jesus is God.
The point of all this, is that you understand the severity of the sacrifice that God made for those who believe, receive, and follow Jesus Christ.
1 comment:
This is a question of semantics. It really depends on what you mean by the word "kill"
Do I believe that God literally came down and "murdered" His one an d only son? Absolutely not.
Do I believe that the death of His son was planned before the foundation of the world? Yes.
I believe that God allowed and ordained the death (including the method of the death) of His one and only Son for those who believe, receive, and follow Him.
Acts 2:23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
Acts 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
God told us about His plan in such OT accounts as the story of Abraham and Isaac.
(taken from www.carm.org)
Why did God tell Abraham to kill his son Isaac?
"Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' 2 And He said, 'Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you,'"(Gen. 22:1-2).
God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac because their actions are pointing ahead to the person of Christ in a typology of the true sacrifice. First of all, God says to Abraham to take his only son. But, we know that 13 years earlier Ishmael had been born to Abraham. So why would God call Isaac the only son? The answer becomes clear when we see what the Scriptures teach.
When Jesus was having a dialogue with the Jews, they accused him of being demon possessed. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 The Jews therefore said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:56-58). (Note that Jesus claimed divinity by referencing the divine name "I AM", see Exodus 3:14). Now, Jesus said that Abraham saw his day. What did Jesus mean by this? The answer is found in the following chart.
ISAAC: Genesis
JESUS: Gospels
Only begotten Son
Gen. 22:2 John 3:16
Offered on a mountain, hill Gen. 22:2 Matt. 21:10
Took donkey to place of sacrifice Gen. 22:3 Matt. 21:2-11
Two men went with him
Gen. 22:3 Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33
Three day journey. Jesus: three days in the grave
Gen. 22:4 Luke 24:13-21
Son carried wood on his back up hill
Gen. 22:6 John 19:17
God will provide for Himself the lamb
Gen. 22:8 John 1:29
Son was offered on the wood Gen. 22:9 Luke 23:33
Ram in thicket of thorns, crown of thorns
Gen. 22:13 John 19:2
The seed will be multiplied Gen. 22:17 John 1:12; Isaiah 53:10
Abraham went down. Son didn't. Isaac is "not mentioned" Gen. 22:19 Luke 23:46
Servant, gets bride for son Gen. 24:1-4 Eph. 5:22-32; Rev. 21:2,9; 22:17
The bride was a beautiful virgin Gen. 24:16 2 Cor. 11:2
Servant offered ten gifts to bride Gen. 22:10 Rom. 6:23; 12; 1 Cor. 12
Let's examine the chart. Both Isaac and Jesus are called the only begotten son. Of course Abraham knew he had a son named Ishmael. But it was not Ishmael who was the son of the promised covenant; it was Isaac, (Gen. 17:19). That is why God called Isaac Abraham's only son. Plus, Isaac was representing the future Messiah Jesus was also called the only begotten son. Also, both Jesus and Isaac were offered on a hill and most scholars that I have read agree that it was the very same hill upon which they were both offered, though around 1800 years apart.
If you examine the chart you can see that there is a very close parallel between the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice of Jesus. Furthermore, you should be able to see that Abraham represented God the father. Isaac represented God the Son. And the servant represented the God the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice of Christ was typified in the sacrifice of Isaac.
So, why did Abraham offer his son Isaac? He did so out of obedience, believing that God could raise him from the dead (Heb. 11:19), and also in his obedience he acted out the true sacrifice of the true only begotten son, Jesus. (end www.carm.org)
So what?
God had a plan to redeem His people (elect) from the consequence of sin through the death of His one and only Son. This plan precedes our existence. It did not catch God off guard. Jesus was born to die for us. It did not catch Jesus of guard. Jesus is God.
The point of all this, is that you understand the severity of the sacrifice that God made for those who believe, receive, and follow Jesus Christ.
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