Passiontide

The "Binding of Isaac" by Abraham (Gen. 22) is an amazing  prophecy of Our Heavenly Father's sacrifice of His only-begotten Son for the purpose that Whosoever  would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Passiontide in the Historic Lectionary begins with Lent 5, when Jesus is finally rejected by the leaders of Israel, as read in the Gospel for that Sunday, John 8:46-59.  There Jesus tells us that Abraham, acting out prophecy, "rejoiced to see my day".

THE  PASSION  OF  JESUS

A Sonnet by George K. Johnson (1920-2007)

(used with permission)

Last Supper's blessing of the bread and wine

Gave way to Jesus flung in prostrate prayer,

Thrice pledging, "Father, not my will, but thine..."

While His apostles slept. Hence His betrayer

Led weaponed guards who bound Him to His trial

And thus, condemned by priests and governor,

To crucifixion.  Then did mobs revile

And mock the dying Christ.  Not angered nor

Self-pitying, He prayed,  "Father, forgive...."

Thus showed He us, in giving up the ghost,

That we would know salvation if we live

The two commandments He gave us as most

Important:  love thy God with all thy heart,

And love thy neighbor as thyself a part.