Echoes of the Story

The redemption of God’s people was over before it began. Until it wasn’t. Abraham and Sarah not being able to get pregnant. The slavery of their descendants in the land of Egypt. The rebellion of those descendants, leading to their eventual destruction by and exile to other nations. Each time, it seemed like God had forgotten His people and abandoned them to sin, suffering, and death. But Sarah miraculously got pregnant. God miraculously led His people out of Egypt and back into the promised land. And He even preserved His people in captivity and led them back from exile into their own land again. But when the first holy Saturday dawned, it seemed like the story was really over for good. Jesus, God in human flesh, had been killed violently on a cross. His talk about His kingdom had been silenced. Was it over? Had God abandoned His people? He hadn’t. All the times God had miraculously rescued His people before had led up to this moment: Christ’s resurrection. Jesus walked out of the tomb alive, healed from His injuries and free from death forever. So whenever it seems like the story is over—like God has abandoned you and forgotten His redemption plan—remember Jesus’ resurrection. He will come again to complete His redemption plan, and He is with His people even now by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:20). If your faith is in Christ, He will save you from sin and death (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). • Kevin Zeller • The Bible—the story of God’s redemption plan for humans—is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. What questions do you have about the Old and New Testaments? Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can bring those questions to—such as a pastor or youth leader? • How do you usually think about Old Testament stories? How do you relate them to the New Testament? • What other pointers to the resurrection can you find in the Old Testament? He [Jesus] said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44 (NIV) Written by Kevin Zeller

Read Verses:

John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:15-17