A Meditation on Why Jesus Emphasized God as “Father”

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In our last episode we looked at what Jesus said to his friend…

Luke 10:41-42 (ESV)

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

He’s talking about Martha’s life — anxious and troubled about MANY things, but one thing is necessary, which will not be taken away from her.

And then right after the story about Mary and Martha…

No chapters in the original. So Luke arranges it so that this is the very next sentence…

Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come.’”

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. 

And lead us not into temptation.’”

Something about this shorter version gives us the main point. 

Father

God of the universe…

Matthew 11:25 (NIV)

…Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth...”

You may have some baggage with that term, Father, but Jesus has the ideal in mind. No one loves you more than your parents (in an ideal situation). And in an ideal situation as a child, your Father is the person you feel most protected by. He’s in charge and you’re safe. He provides everything you need.

This is the ideal Jesus has in mind in…

Matthew 6:6 NIV

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 10:29–31 NIV

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Immediately after Jesus rose from death and came out of his tomb…

John 20:17 ESV

“…Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Jesus is emphasizing that God relates to us as our Father with the same love and access as Jesus enjoyed.

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Our audio engineer is Diego Huaman.

This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.