Yearly we celebrate Easter in memory and celebration of Jesus’ victory over death, but the plan of God’s power and control over death is not one that is evident only after the crucifixion and death of Jesus. In fact, the very notion of resurrection can be traced back to the very beginning of time – to the time of Abraham. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Abraham believed God and was willing to sacrifice his son, because he knew that God would be able to resurrect his son from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). We are made clear that Abraham had the notion of resurrection i.e., the power of God to raise from the dead, even before he set out to the place where he was going to sacrifice Isaac, for he said to the young men who traveled with him – wait here, while me and the lad (Isaac) go yonder to worship, and note how he does not say – “I” will go back to you, but instead he says “we” will come back to you. If Isaac was to be sacrificed and Abraham did not believe in God, he would not have seen the glimpse of God’s power over death.

Points to ponder:
God stops Abraham from sacrificing his son, which made resurrection a notion for Abraham, despite his tremendous faith and belief in God. God however, did not stop himself from sacrificing his only begotten Son, Jesus, for the sake of the world, and after three days, God raised him up from the dead, making resurrection no longer just a notion, but a reality. And Jesus said, that he is indeed the Resurrection and the Life, and if anyone believes in him, though s/he was dead, yet shall s/he live – that is life eternal. Resurrection from our spiritual death hinges upon our believing in Jesus Christ and that is not a mere notion, but a reality. Do you believe?

Genesis 22:5 (KJV)
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Hebrews 11:17-19 (KJV)
17 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.