Abdullah did not see why the Messiah must die for our sins. I took him to Genesis, telling him the story of a holy, faithful, and loving God who created humans to enjoy a close relationship with Himself. Next, we heard of God’s prohibition to Adam (2:16-17). I asked Abdullah, “Did God tell Adam that if he ate the forbidden fruit he must begin to pray, fast, give alms, and perform good deeds to ‘balance out’ his bad deeds?” “No!” replied Abdullah, “God told Adam, ‘In the day you eat of it, you will surely die!’” By going back to this original story, Abdullah understood that the penalty for sin was death and separation from God (something his religion had not taught him). In Genesis 3, we saw how sin infected the human family, but that, on the same day, God gave a promise to send a Savior and painted a picture (the first blood sacrifice for sinners and a covering for their shame). By the death of an innocent victim, God could punish sin without punishing the sinner. — P. B.
Today’s Reading: Psalms 37-39 Memorize: Mark 14:55-56