How Well Do You Know the Father?

John 5:19-30, John 14:6-11

When we look back over the Old Testament the picture we tend to develop of God is one who is angry and ready to strike a person down the first time they make a mistake. Even the Children of Israel pleaded with Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exodus 20:19) When Jesus arrives on the scene, we breathe a sigh of relief in hopes that this kind and gentle Son will somehow protect us from the wrath of an angry God.

If we listen to the words of Jesus we quickly realize that we do not need protection, but in truth, God Himself is our protection and He provides that protection through His Son Jesus. Jesus says of Himself in John 5:19, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” Jesus is not just a representative or a reflection of the Father, but He says He only does what He sees His Father doing. Jesus acts on the Father’s behalf only doing what He has been shown to do. When Jesus heals the sick, then we can assume that is exactly what God desires to happen. When Jesus shows compassion to people, we know by His own self description that is also what His Father would do.

On the other hand, when we see Jesus clearing out the money changers in the temple, He was not in there politely asking them to leave. Scripture says that he made a whip, overthrew tables, scattered their coins and drove them out. (John 2:15) We also see Him as he dealt with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. They used the law to abuse people, yet valued themselves above others and Jesus did not hesitate to speak plainly to them. Over and over again, He called them hypocrites and even referred to them as white washed tombs ~ beautiful on the outside but full of dead man’s bones and everything unclean on the inside. (Matthew 23:27) We can also assume that these words and actions are exactly what God has instructed Jesus to do.

If we want to know the Father, we must know Jesus! By examining the Gospels and the life of Jesus, we not only learn about Jesus, but we also get a clearer picture of our Father. God’s desire is for us to come closer to Him, to know Him, to spend time with Him, and to trust Him with our lives. God’s very own words to Moses while on Mt. Sinai are a beautiful description of who He is and how He loves us as His children. Now, doesn’t that make you want to know Him better?

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus 34:6-7