By: Zach Collins
It is common for the Bible to speak of God as a father. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He said, “When you pray, say, Our Father in Heaven…” (c.f., Luke 11:2). This teaches two important lessons about the fatherhood of God. God is the spiritual Father of Christians and He is the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (c.f., Ephesians 1:3).
While we are given little information about the upbringing of Jesus under the tutelage of Joseph, his earthly father, Mary, and God, His Heavenly Father, we do find a peculiar statement, in Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Jesus grew, not only physically, but spiritually. He grew in wisdom, knowledge, and grace. It is the case that His Heavenly Father played an imperative role in His growing process.
We, as parents, have an interesting way of teaching our children and helping them grow. Many of us have go-to parental sayings that are utilized to teach our children valuable life lessons. I wonder what parental sayings God might have provided to Jesus, Him being His Father and Jesus being His Son? Did they resemble the parental sayings of earthly parents today?
We say, “Kids, money does not grow on trees.”
Perhaps God said, “You could grow money on a tree or, you know, in the mouth of a fish” (Matthew 17:27).
We say, “Use your manners! You were not raised in a barn!”
Perhaps God said, “Do good to all, even though you were born in a barn” (Luke 2:7).
We say, “There are plenty of starving people who would eat your dinner.”
Perhaps God said, “There are plenty of starving people. Why don’t you multiply their dinner?” (John 6:10-12)
We say, “I brought you into this world, and I will take you out of this world.”
Perhaps God said, “I brought You into this world and I’ll let you lay down your life for the world” (John 10:11).
We say, “You kids are going to be the death of me.”
Perhaps God said, “My kids are going to put to death my only begotten Son” (Luke 23:21).
While the aforementioned phrases are written in good humor, I often wonder what conversations occurred in the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son in His time on Earth. In truth, we are only given a small glimpse of these conversations in God’s revelation. But, of this I am sure: We, as Christians, are blessed to have a Heavenly Father who loves us and chastens us as His children. We, as parents, need to take note of how God deals with His children and learn from Him.
Meditate on these things.