John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Confessing Christ publically and openly involves risk, something Nicodemus would not do until he met Jesus at the Cross.

John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. John 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. John 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

This Post is the initial post, establishing the basis for this blog.

Isaac's Redemption

In Genesis 22:2-13, Isaac trusts his father, carrys the wood for his own sacrifice after riding to the site on an ass and is almost sacrificed by his earthly father on an altar he helps to prepare.
Isaac is spared by the provision of an Angel and the placement of a substitute, a ram, for the sacrifice. Genesis records how Isaac's life was extended that day.

Isaac did not save himself.

Isaac took no actions or steps to provide for himself, except loving and trusting his father. In considering this "free gift," with no participant involvement, future posts will examine other groups and individuals - in the Old and New Testaments - who likewise did not save themselves. Collectively, they present a Biblical theme that God saves those he chooses to redeem. Hence the site, Isaac's Redemption.

In subsequent posts, consideration will be given to the amount of effort the first-borns contributed to their redemption at the first Passover in Egypt as well as how much effort the "Thief on the Cross" contributed to his redemption during that brief encounter he had with Christ.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is nodifference: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation throughfaith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

It is interesting to follow the theme God uses, beginning at Genesis and ending at Revelation, that ultimately demonstrates how He can use dead wood to bring about new life. He even has Aaron's Rod, a dead piece of wood, bud and bear almonds in Exodus as a shadow of the resurrection Life He would produce from the dead wood we know as the Cross. Praise God for dead wood!

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The contrast between solid rock and shifting sand is found in Bible and Hymnal. The irony found in the analogy linking Christ and things spiritual to the "rock," and things transient and worldly, tangible, to "shifting sand" is not lost with the events of this week. So is the impulse to return to Egypt after one has been freed from its bondage.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.