Read: Hebrews 10:1-10, 17-18
“Mom, in Sunday school today we learned about Abraham and Isaac.” Myra climbed onto the stool and watched as Mom kneaded some dough.
“Which story did you learn about?” Mom asked.
“The one where Abraham almost sacrifices Isaac. God was just testing Abraham to see if he would give up his son for Him, so He didn’t let him go through with it.” Myra scrunched her nose. “But then God provided a sheep for Abraham to kill instead, and Abraham put that on the altar. People in the Bible sacrificed sheep and other animals a lot. It’s so gross! Why did they do that?”
“Well, in Abraham’s time, Jesus hadn’t been born yet.” Mom punched the dough in front of her. “It’s kind of like this bread. Right now, it hasn’t been baked.” She picked up a knife and a plate. “If I cut a slice of this, it won’t even hold it’s shape.”
Myra giggled as the dough turned into a puddle on the plate. “That’s not what bread is supposed to look like.”
“Exactly.” Mom added the dough back to the rest of the pile. “People back then were under a different law, like this bread dough has different ‘laws’ than baked bread. Animal sacrifices were a way to remember that the wrong things they did were sins against God and required payment.”
Mom put the bread dough into a pan, then covered it with a towel. “Years later, Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice. He paid for every one of those sins on the cross, and even ones that hadn’t happened yet—He paid for them all. When we trust Him as our Savior, our sins are forgiven. There’s no need for sacrifices because Jesus was sacrificed for all of us. He met every requirement of God’s law so we could have a new life of freedom with Him instead.”
Myra nodded slowly. “I get it now. I mean, I still think it was gross that they killed animals and burned them, but I’m really glad Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice so we don’t have to follow those laws.” She glanced at the pan. “And I’m glad that bread is going to follow different ‘laws’ when it’s baked, because I like toast better than puddles!”
–Kimberly Brokish
How about you? Have you ever wondered why people sacrificed animals in the Old Testament? The people of those days had to follow a different law, and sacrifices were very important. But in the New Testament, Jesus came and died for every one of your sins. Sacrifices aren’t needed anymore because He sacrificed Himself for you. When you trust in Him, all your sins are forgiven. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)
Today's key verse: For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:10 (NLT)
Today's key thought: Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice
