The Perfect Father
May 31, 2022 08:31AM ● By Dr. Eric Hankins
One unique feature of the life and ministry of Jesus
was his habit of referring to God as “Father.” While this is commonplace now,
characterizations of God as father were rare in the Old Testament. It was,
however, so central, fundamental and singular to Jesus’ teaching and praying,
the New Testament writers record it not only in Greek, but also in Jesus’
native tongue, Aramaic: “Abba,
Father.” Jesus always spoke of God this way to reframe the nature of the
relationship between God and people. We default to wanting God to keep his
distance and we imagine that He wants the same. Often, our views of God match
the frailties and imperfections of our earthly fathers.
But Jesus
came to reveal that God is a Good Father.
“Abba” captured deep concern and trustworthy authority. A good father provided
love, care, direction, identity, a home and a name. He did this not by taking
or fiat, but by wisdom and sacrifice. What Jesus revealed is that God wants a relationship with us. He wants to talk
to us and listen to us. Like a good father, he knows more than us, he sees what
we can be and will intervene with loving discipline when he sees us straying.
Jesus’ relationship with God as Father was the source of the powerful effect of
his life; everything flowed from it and his first followers knew this.
Amazingly, this same relationship is available for us all, even if our earthly
fathers let us down. “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son
into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a
son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal. 4:6-7)
Dr. Eric Hankins, Ph.D., is
pastor at First Baptist Church of Fairhope, 300 S. Section St., Fairhope, AL.
For more information, call 251-928-8685 or visit FirstFairhope.org.
