Abraham Rejoiced to See My Day

Temple Baptist Church - 5-3-2023

John 8:56-59

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Over the last few weeks spent in the context of John, chapter 8, we have seen Abraham referred to several times.  Abraham is named 250 times in the Bible with 11 of those mentions in John, chapter 8.

 

B.  I want to move on from the lack of saving faith of these Jews who referenced Abraham and look at the importance of this great patriarch of the Old Testament.

 

C.  Who was this man important enough for God to name “Abraham’s Bosom” after him?  Bosom:

 

1.  Bosom – a bay.  A place of refuge from the storm; a place of calm and peace; a place of abiding.

 

2.  Bosom – a woman’s bosom; a place of comfort and safety for a child.

 

3.  Bosom – a bosom buddy or friend; closeness and love.

 

D.  Abraham’s Bosom – a place where the Old Testament saints found safety and comfort while awaiting the glorious resurrection of Christ Jesus.

 

E.  John 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

 

1.  Now Jesus told these unsaved Jews that Abraham was indeed their “father” as far as the flesh was concerned, but not their spiritual “father”. 

 

2.  “Abraham rejoiced to see my day”.  Hebrews speaks of the faith of the Old Testament Jews in chapter 11 as they looked forward in prophecy to the coming of the Seed of the Woman, the Lamb of God, and Israel’s Messiah.  As we look back to Christ and Calvary by faith, we are to rejoice also.

 

a)  Looking Forward – Hebrews 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 

b)  Looking Back – Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

 

1 Peter 1:8-10  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  (9)  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  (10)  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

 

3.  Abraham “saw it, and was glad”.  “Oh happy day that fixed my choice!”  “Oh say but I’m glad, I’m glad!”

 

F.  What made Abraham so special, so necessary, so important?

 

1.  Abraham’s Person.

 

a.  Abraham: A Follower of God – Hebrews 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 

b.  Abraham: A Father of Israel – Hebrews 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 

c.  Abraham” A Friend of God – James 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

 

2.  Abraham’s Promise.

 

a.  The Promise of the Nation – Genesis 12:1-3  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  (2)  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 

 

b.  The Promise of the Saviour – Genesis 22:17-18  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  (18)  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

 

c.  The Promise of the Seed – Genesis 15:5-6  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  (6)  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 

3.  Abraham’s Position.  He is called the “Father” of our faith.  Romans 4:12  And the father of   circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

 

a.  Abraham believed in a Truth that could be Trusted – Romans 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

 

b.  Abraham had a Faith that could be Tested – Genesis 22:2-3  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.  (3)  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

 

4.  Abraham’s Prophecy.

 

a.  A Lamb Prophesied– Genesis 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

 

b.  A Lamb Provided:

 

1)  In Abraham’s Day – Genesis 22:11-14  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.  (12)  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  (13)  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.  (14)  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

 

2)  In John’s Day – John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

Hebrews 11:17-19  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  (18)  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  (19)  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.