March 25th, 2022
Good, Good Father
By Pastor Todd Crofford
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
-Mark 14:36 NIV
Islam has 99 names for God; not one of them translates as Father. Judaism proclaims God as Father in a metaphorical sense. Jesus alone gives invitation for us to see God with much greater intimacy. His habit of referencing Father God as Abba was borderline scandalous to the other teachers around him. This is a unique celebration point for Christians - God wants intimate relationship with us!
The term Abba reveals his affection for us, but there is more. Abba also indicates children’s willingness to obey their father. When speaking in Hebrew, the command “Son, clean your room” gets the response “Yes, Abba.” If a child knows the affection and protection of his father, he or she is more than willing to obey out of a trust that Father knows best.
The text above is a great example, showing Jesus as ready to obey the will of the father. The other Bible verses using Abba in the New Testament all have similar overtones of obedience. (See Romans 8:13, Galatians 4:4) If as a Christian we proclaim that God loves us, that He is perfect, and can be trusted- then we also must decide to obey Jim in everything He asks of us. Like the song says “You’re a good, good Father.”
In response, I want to be a joyfully obedient son.
How about you?
By Pastor Todd Crofford
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
-Mark 14:36 NIV
Islam has 99 names for God; not one of them translates as Father. Judaism proclaims God as Father in a metaphorical sense. Jesus alone gives invitation for us to see God with much greater intimacy. His habit of referencing Father God as Abba was borderline scandalous to the other teachers around him. This is a unique celebration point for Christians - God wants intimate relationship with us!
The term Abba reveals his affection for us, but there is more. Abba also indicates children’s willingness to obey their father. When speaking in Hebrew, the command “Son, clean your room” gets the response “Yes, Abba.” If a child knows the affection and protection of his father, he or she is more than willing to obey out of a trust that Father knows best.
The text above is a great example, showing Jesus as ready to obey the will of the father. The other Bible verses using Abba in the New Testament all have similar overtones of obedience. (See Romans 8:13, Galatians 4:4) If as a Christian we proclaim that God loves us, that He is perfect, and can be trusted- then we also must decide to obey Jim in everything He asks of us. Like the song says “You’re a good, good Father.”
In response, I want to be a joyfully obedient son.
How about you?
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