Happy Father’s day! Today let’s consider some things about the best Father of all.
As we come to the last chapter of the gospel of Luke, we are reminded that God’s love wins. God’s love wins, always. Think about that, always! We have a Father in heaven who gave us His Son, Jesus Christ as a gift of love, a gift of life.
Our Father’s gift conquers sin, it conquers death, it conquers brokenness and separation… Our Father’s gift overcomes the world and brings life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Jesus, God’s gift, was crucified for our sins. He obeyed his Father and died a terrible, cruel, excruciatingly painful death on the cross. All the sins of all humanity were all laid on him as he suffered on that cross, and he was punished for each and every one of our sins as if he had been guilty of them all. He was crushed for our iniquities, he was wounded for our transgressions, he was punished for our sins; the chastisement that brought us peace fell on him. He was despised and afflicted, for our sakes. He, the innocent, suffered so that we, the guilty, might be set free. What a gift! What an ironic work of heaven for humanity!
Jesus’ death in Luke 23 is the heavenly gift and work of salvation for us. Jesus’ resurrection in Luke 24 is the proof that Jesus is the Savior, Son of God, and Lord of life.
Jesus died as our Savior and he rose to prove it and to be our Lord.
Let’s review the 24th chapter and then look at one part of what Luke stresses here and relate it to the topic of Father’s day.
In Luke 24 the story of the risen Jesus unfolds:
First – (1-12) Jesus’ resurrection is announced by angels to some women who have come to the tomb to anoint his body with spices since they could not do so when it was placed in the tomb three days earlier. They ran back to tell the apostles, but they didn’t believe them.
Second – (13-32) Here Jesus appears to two disciples as they are walking to Emmaus. They are prevented from recognizing Jesus even as he converses with them about what the scriptures say concerning himself. They invite him to join them for dinner and as he blessed and broke the bread before them, their eyes were opened and they recognized him as Jesus, and he disappeared.
Third – (33-53) They ran back to report this to the apostles, and while they were speaking, Jesus was suddenly there in their midst. They were all terrified! You’ve got to love how Jesus handled this… He asks them why they are so upset. Then he shows them his hands and feet and says, “Handle me and see, It’s me! A spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see I have.” They still didn’t believe what they were seeing was real and so Jesus said, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in front of them. Can’t you just see that? I imagine they kept those fish bones for a long time!
Then, again, Jesus explained his life, death and resurrection to them from what was written in the scriptures, and he gave them the commission to go preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations starting in Jerusalem. He also promised them heavenly power to do the job.
Not long after that, Jesus ascended to heaven as they saw him go.
Wow!
What a grand finale for the gospel! Jesus, who was crucified, is risen! He fulfilled all that was written about him in the Old Testament scriptures, and now he rules from heaven as Lord of lords and King of kings.
You may ask, “What does this have to do with Father’s Day and fathers today?” I’m glad you asked! It has all kinds of things to do with that.
First, think about God the Father’s relationship with Jesus his Son.
Our Father in heaven has had big plans for Jesus his Son from before the beginning of time. Those plans have been revealed to us throughout the scriptures and Jesus has followed the Father’s plans to the letter, even when it cost him his life. I propose to you that we have a Father/Son relationship here that is a great example of all Father and child relationships (or all parent/child relationships for that matter).
Fathers among us, let me ask, what plans do you have for your children? How are you revealing those plans and preparing your children to follow them? Maybe we have to back up a bit and ask some more basic questions. Are fathers supposed to do this? Are parents supposed to have plans for their children today? Or are we just supposed to bring children into this world and let them go in whatever way the world leads them? Are we just supposed to provide for them so that they can go and find out who they are and follow their own hearts and do whatever they find fulfilling? Is that it? Is that the example God gives us? If not, where in the world did that idea come from? I’ll tell you where… the pit of hell!
Let me clarify what I’m saying here. God the Father had plans for Jesus the Son, right?
These plans were revealed and recorded in scripture, right? Jesus executed the plans, right? It was a good thing, right?
What if God the Father had modeled his Fathering after our modern concept of individuality and freedom of expression and self discovery and personal fulfillment? What might Jesus life have looked like if that were the case? If Jesus had only had his own personal will to follow, he would not have gone to the cross. He himself said, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, but not MY will, THY will be done.” Whose will is Jesus following here? His own or his Father’s? Whose plan is Jesus keeping?
Jesus didn’t come here to fulfill himself, did he? Jesus came here as the only begotten Son of God who the Father said at his baptism, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased!” And at the mountain of transfiguration, “This is my beloved son, listen to Him!” You see, God the Father has entrusted all things to the Son, Jesus Christ. Why? Because! Jesus is faithful as a Son! Jesus follows the will of the Father! Jesus loves his Father and is completely in submission to his Father and walks in perfect step with his Father’s will. Jesus performs the plan. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.” And whose will is that? It has to be the will of God the Father. Young people, whose will are you following today?
Secondly, the Father in heaven is perfect. He knows Jesus his Son perfectly and fully. He loves Jesus his only begotten Son and gives him all authority in heaven and on earth.
Fathers here today… how well do you know your children? How well do you know their hearts and minds? What if you knew them so well you could give them life plans that would bring them to the very highest and the very best they could ever hope to achieve. What might that look like for each of your children? Do you know?
If you could know, would you do what you could to give your children this?
Young folks… listen to me… if your parents had a plan for your life that would bring you the very highest and best you could ever hope to achieve, would you follow it?
Think about this with me. What kind of parent/child relationship is imagined in the Bible? What kind of honor are children called to have for their parents? What kind of nurture and admonition are parents called to give to their children?
Listen… What the Bible shows us is that God not only had a plan for Jesus, God the heavenly Father has a plan for every one of us! God, the heavenly Father, wants every one of us to become His children and follow His plan for our lives. As Dad’s here on earth, you and I need to know God and read his plan for our lives and walk in it first, so that we can help our children come to know the plan for their lives and walk in it too.
Our heavenly Father gave us the perfect gift! He gave us Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life! He reveals the Father’s plan for us! If we father our children as God demonstrates for us, we will teach our children his plan for their lives and help them follow in it. We will show them how to walk in the plan by walking in it ourselves and calling on them to follow.
Close:
Rachel called from Costa Rica and talked with Jenny recently for a long time. Our little Rachel has been ministering to a young woman there who is a new Christian. This woman began to open up and share with Rachel her past. It is terrible. She is a product of incest and has seen a life of disgusting abuse and suffering. She is now married and she and her husband are Christians. They desperately want better lives and are struggling to overcome their painful past. Rachel listened and prayed with her and for her and humbly offered scripture to her as they visited. What this new Christian sees in Rachel and Hector is the blessing of Christ and the glory of God in a life that reflects His plan.
Rachel said, “It is amazing how wonderful God’s plan for us is. It is so simple and so good for everyone. When people go their own way life always becomes so messed up and miserable and complicated.” God’s plan is perfect! Jesus said it best, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.”
God’s way is the very best. It is not always the easiest or the most thrilling, but it is the very highest and the very best.
Final word: God not only gives us the best plan, but he always empowers us to keep the plan when we trust him.
