John 14:7-15 Ask Dad
If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, keep my commands.
Remember that the Jews hated Jesus’ doctrine of God being his Father (John 10:31-39). It looks like the disciples had made progress in this. Maybe they didn’t get the full weight or implication of the doctrine but they were ready to adopt it at least enough to use the same terms Jesus used. Calling YHWH the glorious, unpronounceable, all powerful, Creator, Father was a big step.
The knowledge of God as Father advanced rapidly in the early church as we see in,
Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
1 John 3:1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
Today when we pray, “Our Father” as Jesus taught us to we certainly do not grasp the full weight of glory behind those two simple words. But, we approach the throne of grace with what faith we have and allow God to demonstrate what it means that he is our father day by day. We’re adoptees learning how to live in a new family, adjusting to the reality that God is our new dad.
What follows, “Our Father”? “Hallowed be thy name.” In our requests to God are we mindful of God’s glory? Does what we do in the name of Jesus bring glory to God? Are we bringing honor to the family by adjusting our desires to match dad’s? Knowing that the name Jesus means perfection of life and ultimate self-sacrifice, what request you or I could come up with could be worthy of that standard? Nonetheless Jesus invites us to use his name. The name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9-11). What are we to use it for? To keep his commands. What is his command? That we love one another. Ask God, in Jesus name, for power to love.
brotherpayne 