29 of 365 - Abraham Rejoiced

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. John 8:56
 
Fast-forwarding to the New Testament when Jesus is walking the earth. In this passage we see a reference looking back to the story about the ram taking Isaac’s place as the sacrifice.
 
Jesus is talking to religious leaders at the time. He tells them Abraham rejoiced that he would see Jesus’ day; that he saw it and was glad.
 
When Abraham heard the angel and saw the ram that was to be the sacrifice to take Isaac’s place, he was indeed glad.  Abraham believed God and knew that He would save Isaac. He didn’t know all the details, but He trusted and believed God. And God came through. The religious leaders would be very familiar with this story passed on from generation to generation.
 
Jesus is basically saying, “Hey, remember when Abraham rejoiced at the substitutionary sacrifice? Well, that was all a glimpse into an even bigger substitutionary sacrifice for all mankind. And it is about me. I’m here! I’m the one who will take your place. I’m the one who will be sacrificed so that you can be made right with God for eternity. I’m the one you have been waiting for. In all of your religious pomp and activity, don’t miss ME.”
 
The message is for us too. The Messiah has come. The one who takes away our sins and makes us whole. He loves us just the way we are…in our mess, confusion, disobedience, fear, anxiety…He alone knows how to keep us from staying there. He is the one our heart longs for, but can’t quite pinpoint. He is the one to make things right again. Don’t miss Him.
 
Question: How are we at risk of missing Jesus, even in our religious activities?