Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus' day

What did Abraham see? He saw a ram caught in a thicket, which he offered as a vicarious satisfaction for his son. A substitutionary atonement. He saw Jesus, who was offered in our place as a ransom to redeem us. And he saw Jesus also in his son Isaac: having come on a donkey to the place of sacrifice (behold, the very same place!), ascending the hill with the wood of the altar, crying out Father in filial obedience, bound on that altar for sacrifice. He saw Jesus in all this, and received him back on the third day. And he saw Jesus in  the Angel of the Lord who stayed his hand. For Jesus is the great I Am, the Incarnate One, the Uncreated from the beginning. What do you see? Do you see Jesus? You are in the same place as Abraham, or rather, receiving the same Christ. For Abraham was at the actual place of the crucifixion, but you receive the actual Christ who was crucified. See, his Body, his Blood: here is the Sacrifice for your sin. So see, and with Abraham rejoice: see his Day and be glad. Sermon for Judica, Passion Sunday.