I taught the kids on Wednesday night and provided a bit of translation flare to John 4:14, so a “spring of water welling up” became a “geyser of water springing up”. Hence the mentos and diet coke — this is the action of Jesus that propels us into God’s Love!

I let the youngest kids pull the tab and release the excitement. So Mr. E was the first. All of our kids bring such joy into our lives. Which makes the story of Abraham and Isaac so troubling!

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac… _{(Gen 22:6)}

In the context of the Old Testament, the event is disturbing. In a time when child sacrifice was a darkness of other cultures — why would God ever ask this? Had not Abraham, picking up and moving for God, already proven faithful? Did God need a test to know what was in Abraham’s heart?

The thought of losing my own son (or one of my daughters) makes this whole story terrible.

And it is in this thought we see the extent of God’s love. Our Father’s intention was always to release us from this fate. To carry it himself.

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” _(v8)

Jesus, carrying his own cross, went out to the place of the Skull… _{John 19:17}