I’ve been thinking about Jesus and the Father for weeks. I’m reading John’s gospel (again) remembering why it’s my favorite. There’s a theme that most commentators on the text don’t emphasize as a theme–the Father.
Jesus makes a big deal (or at least John really emphasizes the fact) of his Father (not Joseph, but God). He comes from the Father. The Father is in him. He is in the Father. He and the Father are one. What does this mean?
People obviously had trouble figuring it out. He was talking to a group of Jews (probably Pharisees) when he told them that his words were truth and truth would set them free. They said they were Abraham’s children and had never been slaves. Aside from the fact that their knowledge of history was a little bit lacking, they were talking about biological genealogy.
Jesus turned the question into a spiritual issue. If they were really Abraham’s children, they would follow Jesus. Then he tells them that their real father is the evil one (whom we call Satan these days). But his father is God.
Later, as he is giving his last instructions to his inner circle, he says that he is about to go to the Father. Not understanding, Philip asks where the father is and can they go, too. Jesus says, not that kind of father and he’ll discover eventually.
These episodes point out what I’ve been trying to teach for 30 years or so. You really need to read the Bible with spiritual eyes. That’s what Jesus taught. We all have biological fathers. We may also have adopted fathers. This refers to physical family. You don’t have a choice in the matter–especially the biological one.
But Jesus taught and showed that there is a Father whom you can choose. A spiritual Father. And not a remote god who is not approachable except under special circumstances by special people. This Father is revealed in relationship. You live with Him. He lives within you. He’ll guide you if you listen. He’ll listen if you talk. He’ll help you put your spiritual life together. This leads to putting your emotional life together. And your physical life.
And it’s simple. You get to choose. You begin by just deciding you want to live with the Father. Then you practice ways of developing your relationship.
Faith Venture 
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