"Rejocing With Father Abraham!" John 8:42-49

Judica, The 5th Sunday In Lent                   26-March-2023
Sermon Text: John 8:42-49
Sermon Theme: “Rejoicing With Father Abraham” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Psa 43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! Judgement Sunday is today! We cry out with the Psalmist, “O God vindicate me!” Where? Father Abraham confessed at Mount Moriah, “Gen 22:14 ...."In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided." He renamed Moriah,“ The-LORD-Will-Provide.” How? Gen 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” Through the sacrifice of a ram with a thorn encircled brow shedding its innocent blood for Isaac upon the wood of the altar. “The-Lord-Will-Provide” is part of the mountain later called “Zion” and in Jesus’ day it became known as “The Place of the Skull.” A place reserved the execution of the worst enemies of the Roman state and religion.
        By faith Abraham saw it all. All that we celebrate in the next two weeks in the church year. All that we never finish celebrating for it is at the heart of every Sunday. By faith he saw Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection for him, for Isaac, for all sinners born of Adam. As we prepare next Sunday to entering into Holy Week. Listen to Jesus preaching and walk with Him to His cross, “Rejoicing With Father Abraham!”
    It was mid October, six months before the Passover would be fulfilled, the feast of tabernacles and booths. For seven days the Jewish faithful gathered at Jerusalem and camped in tents. They were participating in the history of their forefathers forty year sojourning in the wilderness led by Moses, by reenacting it. History matters. Our Creator God enacted creation through His Word in six 24 hour days about 6,000 years ago. When Adam rebelled against our Creator’s life giving Word and invitation to feast with Him at the Tree of Life he plunged us and all creation into sin. Sin brings death. Adam trusted the father of lies - Satan’s murderous word and plunged us all into sin and death. We all die for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.
    The devil promises us knowledge of good and evil. He promises we will become our own gods calling our own shots and re-imagining reality according to our whims. It is a lie. He is the father of lies. He shuns the good and chains us to know only evil. He butchers babies, bodies, families, and nations in the name of progressivism. Man made paradises have slaughtered over 100 million people in the last century in the name of communism. Shutting his ears to God’s Word and listening to Satan’s word repeated by his wife - Adam choose not to be of God. In his one decision our free will in spiritual matters disappeared. The natural man no longer receives the things of the Spirit of God. From Adam we are conceived and born dead in our trespasses and sins to all true spiritual realities. Yes, we play spirituality, the walking dead being led by our passions and lusts by the prince of the power of the air - father liar - father murderer - the devil.
      We cry out, “Psa 43:3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.” Our gracious God hears and answers our prayer. He didn’t allow Adam to grow comfortable in the darkness of Satan, sin, and death. He came seeking the lost with the light of His Word of Promise. Now He who is the Light of the world, the Light of Life, enters human history to purchase and win us from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. He comes to tabernacle to “tent” among us the God-Man for our salvation. The Lord is in His Temple preaching, (vs.42-45) He who is The Truth - the only begotten Son of God - tented in human flesh through the Virgin stood among them. They refused to listen.
      Father Abraham had been hard of hearing. Noah’s sons soon were led astray by Satan’s false religions. Instead of worshiping the Creator, they bowed down to His creatures worshiping the sun, moon, stars, and other animals. Behind this false worship stood the arch demon - Satan - the Liar- beckoning all to fall down and worship him if they’d inherit worldly power and wealth. The Lord God called Abraham to leave the paganism of Ur and to journey west towards Salem where the Church remained. Many think it was Shem through whom the Lord called Abram to leave the lie, and trust the Truth - the Promise of Christ Jesus.
Mark well, those who will not listen to Jesus’ Word, recorded in the Holy Gospels - have not God as their Father. They are children of the devil.
      Lord Jesus, Light of the World, The Truth lead me to Your Holy Hill! In Psalm 24 David asks, “Psa 24:3-4 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?” The Lord answers, (4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.” Abram had lifted his hands to an idol. He lied - he swore deceitfully that Sarai was his sister, not his wife to Pharaoh. David lusted, committed adultery, lied, and murdered. How could they ever hope of ascending the Holy Hill of the Lord to be restored to Paradise? They needed a greater righteousness from outside of themselves - the righteousness of the Second Adam. (Vs. 46-47) No one in the Temple could convict Jesus of sin. He was innocent from His conception in every thought, word, and deed. Like the first Adam created without sin, in the very image of God full of righteousness and truth.
    The Jews cannot convict Jesus of sin, nor can they contradict His teaching from the written Scriptures. So they attack His person with a false accusation. (Vs.48) “Ad hominem” attacks are what our fallen flesh resorts to when it cannot counter the truth presented. We don’t want to hear the Law convicting us of our sin, so we disparage the preacher’s personality as an excuse not to come to church.
    Abraham humbled himself before God’s Word. He was 75 years old when the Lord called him from paganism into Christ’s Church. He clung to the Promised Seed - Christ Jesus - to be born of his blood line through Sarah. Believing in the promised Christ against all hope - at 99 he was strengthened to father a son through his 80 year old wife Sarah. Now at 130 he seeks only to honor God the Father and seek His glory. He doesn’t question the Lord’s command to sacrifice Isaac. He clings to the Truth that from Isaac the Messiah would be born. Jesus preached this resurrection hope to Abraham. (Vs.49-53). “If anyone keeps My Word he will never see death.” Abraham rejoiced in the life giving Word of Jesus. Entrusted to Sarah, him, and Isaac- their son of joy. Hear God the Holy Spirit’s testimony, 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.” Saving faith doesn’t look to itself trusting its own reason or strength. Saving faith looks only to God the Father’s promise of salvation in Christ Jesus as the Holy Spirit gives us life in His Name. Abraham rejoiced in Jesus! Listen! 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.”
      It was on the Mount called, “The-Lord-Will-Provide” that Abraham beheld the salvation of all sinners. (Vs.54-56) Humbled by God’s precious promise, our father Abraham, trusted the Lord’s Word and command to sacrifice his beloved son on Moriah. He trusted Christ’s living Word that triumphs over death, sin, and Satan. Knowing and trusting God’s promise in Christ he knew the Father’s love reclaiming the lost. Moriah, “The-Lord-Will-Provide,” “The Place of the Skull”, or maybe you better know it by its Greek name, “Calvary”, or as it is named in Aramaic, “Golgotha.” Abraham believed that after a three day journey his beloved son would not only worship on the mount, be sacrificed, but come back again with him. When the Lord Jesus stopped his hand from slaying his beloved son Isaac - He understood Christ’s day. Jesus the great High Priest would take our place under His Father’s just wrath for sinners. He would carry the wood of His sacrifice on His back up Golgotha. He would willingly lay down His life in the place of us sinners. God the Father’s hand would not be restrained. He would slay His only begotten Son to save us!
      This is the scandal of Jesus. His incarnation, birth, life, passion, death, burial, and resurrection! (Vs.57-59) Jesus is “I AM.” He is Yahweh - the God of Creation - the God of all power and might - His glory is to be sacrificed for you and me - for all sinners. Will you listen to His voice? Feast on the His flesh and blood sacrificed for you on the Tree of Life - His Holy Cross - His living flesh and blood which tasting of His life eternal you will never taste death - it is only a brief falling asleep until His final coming - the day of resurrection - Easter forever!
Dear Christian - Rejoice with Father Abraham looking only to Jesus! On the Mount of the Lord it is provided for you! His Word is Truth. His Word covers your sin with His righteousness. His Word fills you with His Life. His Word honors His Father to call you His own beloved children. His Word preserves you! Rejoice to sing! Psa 43:4-5 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. (5) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Amen.