My wife and I enjoy a British TV show that airs on Monday evenings called, “Father Brown”. It’s based on the writings by the lay theologian and Christian apologist, G.K. Chesterton. The show follows the exploits of a murder-solving, Catholic priest, with each episode illustrating or directly teaching some Christian principle.
At the climax of one recent episode, Father Brown offered himself as a sacrifice in substitution for an innocent man about to be executed because of an ancient legend and the town’s fear of polio. Father Brown offered some last words that contrasted what he was about to do with what Jesus did do. Jesus willingly sacrificed himself, but Father Brown was admittedly more tentative. Further, Jesus substituted Himself on the behalf of everyone throughout all of human history, even all the wicked from every era who deserved punishment. But Father Brown was ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice for but a solitary, good man who was being treated unjustly.
This summer we have been learning about the kind of faith that pleases God. Come this Sunday to learn about the matchless faith of a man who was willing to do something harder than sacrifice himself. He was willing to sacrifice his own son. Why??? You’ll have to come Sunday.