Three times in John’s revelation Jesus identifies himself as the “Alpha and the Omega”, the first and the last.  There are a lot of layers to this and too many to cover in a short article but I was provided with an amazing connection this past weekend between the first and the last.

In Genesis 3 we find Adam and Eve making their excuses to God for their sin.  They discovered they were naked and had hid themselves knowing instinctively the coverings they had made for them selves were  insufficient.  When the pronouncement of curses was ended and man was made to understand the consequences of sin God performed a first.  He gave something he called good for the sake of his children.  

He created clothing of skins.  His children needed to be covered.  They were facing a new life in a harsh environment, they would need protection. They were facing a new life where they were aware, and ashamed, of their nakedness, they would need covering.

At the climax of each of the gospels we find God repeating this action.  He gives something good for the sake of his children.

He gave the blood of his son.  He children needed to be covered.  They were to face a new life in a harsh environment, they would need protection.  They were facing a new life where they were aware of their sins, those sins would need covered.

The Alpha and the Omega.  God provided the first and the last sacrifices.  An animal to cover his children, a son to cover their sins.  He would accept countless sacrifices in the thousands of year between the two, but none of them added up to the first and last he gave himself.  Both showed his amazing grace.  In the first few moments of separation, while still standing int he garden, he showed his love and care for his fallen children.  He continues his love and care when he gives his son when we have strayed even farther from Eden and provided a sacrifice to free us from our sin.

In the beginning of sin, he planned the end of sin.