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Read it

Genesis 22: 13-14, Exodus 12:21, John1:29

Near the beginning of the greatest story ever Abraham took his only son Isaac up a mountain thinking he would have to die. But then this happened…

Genesis 22: 13-14

Abraham looked round and saw a ram caught in a bush by its horns. He went and got it and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place “The LORD Provides”.

Then hundreds of years later Abraham’s family (Israel) escaped from Egypt because this happened…

Exodus 12:21

Moses called for all the leaders of Israel and said to them, “Each of you is to choose a lamb or a young goat and kill it, so that your families can celebrate Passover.”

Finally, we see the preview is being fulfilled…

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Quiz it

Without looking at the storyline – we have done 22 characters and events so far.

  • How many can you remember?
  • Which is your favorite so far and why?

No one in the story so far has been the ultimate hero. From the beginning key characters have made bad choices.

  • Who made the first bad choice and what did they do?

Adam and Eve started a pattern of God’s people rejecting the good things God provided and going their own way. But, all along God has given signposts pointing to how he will put things right.

  • What signposts has God given us so far about how he will finally put things right? (revisit read it section, recap stories of Abraham & Isaac and Passover)

Towards the end of the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah gave an even more detailed signpost:

Isaiah 53: 6-7 (NIV)

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all…
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

  • According to Isaiah, for “the greatest story ever” to finish with a happy ending, what will the greatest hero have to do?

After Nehemiah rebuilt the walls, there was a 400 year wait before the greatest hero arrived.

  • How did John announce Jesus’ arrival at the beginning of the New Testament? John 1:29

Just as John pointed to Jesus, so the OT is full of signposts pointing to Jesus. He is the long awaited hero.

Pray it

Dear God,

Thank you for creating a beautiful world and for providing a rescuer to save it. Thank you that Jesus came as the lamb who would take away the sins of the world. Help our lives to point to Jesus as the greatest hero ever.

Amen

Pray it+ Pray for the person next to you that they will get to know Jesus more as we enter the New Testament.

Do it

Muddle up the cards on the storyline. See if your adults can put them back in the correct order - without checking out the numbers on the back!

Place it

Finally - have a look at the back of your card. What does it say? You can now place your card onto your story line.