Daily Lectionary | Genesis 22 & John 11:1-44
Genesis 22
Summary
The story of the Lord calling Abraham to sacrifice his only son is difficult to process. Why would the Lord put Abraham through such a grueling experience? Was Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son? What might be even more surprising is that Genesis 22 doesn’t show us Abraham struggling with his inner feelings, but it shows us his immediate obedience. This recalls the Lord’s call to Abraham to leave his homeland in Genesis 12, which he obeys. In Genesis 22:18, the Lord commends Abraham for his obedience.
In Genesis 3:15, God makes a promise that a child will be born who will crush the head of the serpent. The story of the coming seed is a major theme of Genesis. Where is this promised seed? After the fall of the flood and the fall at Babel, now there is a promise that God’s promised seed will come through Abraham. But what will happen if Isaac is sacrificed?
Abraham, however, does exactly what the Lord tells him, taking fire and wood and his son up the mountain. But Abraham says to his servants to stay back, but Abraham tells them that “we (meaning Abraham and his son) will return” (Gen. 22:5-6). Abraham believed the Lord must have a plan to resurrect Isaac. The Lord had made a covenant after all that Isaac was the seed. Abraham must have reasoned that Isaac’s life would have to continue.
The narrative leads us to believe that Abraham was fully prepared to sacrifice his son in obedience to the Lord’s command and that that he and his son would come back down the mountain.
The Lord provides a substitute sacrifice in the ram. Abraham had given up his only son for death, but “got him back” by exercising his resurrection faith.
Reflection Questions
We hear several times in the passage that Isaac is Abraham’s son, “his only son.” Further, Isaac asks, “Where is the lamb?” How does this prepare us for the work of God’s only son, the lamb of God?
Read Romans 4:16-25. Where has Abraham seen the Lord’s resurrection power before this event with Isaac?
John 11:1-44
Summary
The first part of John’s Gospel is often called “The Book of Signs,” as Jesus performs seven signs. As John’s Gospel tells a story of new creation “in the beginning” through the word, Jesus Christ, the seven signs make us think of the seven days of creation.
Water to wine (ch. 2)
Child healed (ch. 4)
Paralytic in Jerusalem, ch 5
Feeding of 5000, ch 6:
Crossing the sea, ch 6:
Blind man receives sight, ch 9:
Raising of Lazaraus.
Jesus is establishing his new creation with powerful signs. He’s “working” on behalf of the father. On day 6, the Lord creates man from the dust. Jesus’ sixth sign is the creation of a new man from the dirt as well. On the seventh day, the Lord rests from his works. The seventh sign is the ultimate sign of sabbath rest: resurrection.
Jesus demonstrates his deep love for his friend Lazarus by weeping for him. The Jews remarked how much Jesus loved Lazarus. But Jesus is the friend who has power over death, calling Lazarus out of the tomb.
Jesus connects belief in him with seeing the glory of God (Jn. 11:40). And Mary, Martha, and others will see the glory of God. Once again, Jesus’ miracles are not meant to be seen as magic tricks but signposts of God’s glory.
Jesus’ glory reveals the glory of God in raising Lazarus, but this is all pointing to the greatest sign of glory: his own resurrection. Jesus’ work of a new creation is a work of resurrection.
Reflection Questions
What role do Mary and Martha play in this chapter?
How is Jesus “the resurrection and the life”? What does this mean for us?