From the Mailbag

Dear Keith,

Hi. I love your blog. I wrote the following for a blog on the Animals and Religion Forum on the Best Friends Animal Network website. I just wanted to share it with you:

I was at a book signing recently for my book (All Creatures of Our God and King: What God's Word Says About Animals) and I was approached by a man who asked me the following question: "Why would anyone want to write a book about what the Bible says about animals? Doesn't it just tell us to kill them all?" Sadly, this kind of reaction is not uncommon. So many people today do not realize how God feels about the animal kingdom, His own special creation.

This Easter, I would like to share an important Biblical truth. When Jesus died on the cross, He didn't just save us humans—He died for the animals, too. Prior to Jesus' death on the cross, animal sacrifices were a common and vital part of every family's worship experience. Lambs, goats, birds were sacrificed at home, at temples and on altars themselves. The animals took the place of humans. We humans did not have to die for our sins—innocent, pure animals took our place. Through the course of history, countless animals died to save human souls. Before the time of Jesus, humans found their salvation through animal sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross, He became the one and only sacrifice. He died to pay for all our sins forever and ever. Animal sacrifice was no longer necessary.

The Bible says that we have a savior who can sympathize and identify with us because He has been a man, tempted in every way, just as we are (Hebrews 4:15). Well, Jesus can also certainly identify with animals. He and the animals in the Old Testament experienced something no one else on earth has—giving their lives for the sins of others—sacrificing themselves to bring others closer to God.

So, friends, Jesus is not only the lover of our souls—He is a lover of the animals as well.

Happy Easter,
Teri Wilson