Altar Sunday

"Abraham placed the wood of the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the knife and the fire. As the two of them went on together, Isaac said, 'Father?' 'Yes, my son,' Abraham replied. 'We have the wood and the fire,' said the boy, 'but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?' 'God will provide a lamb, my son,' Abraham answered. And they both went on together. When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood. And Abraham took the knife and lifted it up to kill his son as a sacrifice to the Lord. At that moment the angel of the Lord shouted to him from heaven. 'Abraham! Abraham!'
'Yes,' he answered. 'I'm listening.' 'Lay down the knife,' the angel said. 'Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me.' Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering on the altar in place of his son.' Genesis 22:6-13

Abraham loved the Lord so much he didn't even withhold his own son from Him. This act of faithfulness and obedience spared the life of Isaac, and the ram became the substitute. Jesus did the same thing for us. He gave His life so ours would be spared.

From the altar to the Cross.