Who is Your Father?
Of the many accusations against Christ was the claim to know what where He came from. Of course, this was a ruse because they didn’t want to admit that He was Christ. So, they kept asking Him questions. They ask us all sorts of questions too, but we never properly answer.
The Lord said to the Jews who came to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; and he saw it and was glad.” The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
John 8.51-59
The very word ‘father’ creates much debate within Protestant Christians. In today’s reading the crowd claimed that Abraham was their father, and Christ didn’t deny it. “Your father Abraham rejoiced.” Everyone has a father, earthly and spiritual.
The crowd in today’s passage was referring to their spiritual father, Abraham who was the first to follow God’s covenant. His descendants were the people of God, yet they didn’t recognize Him when He arrived to save them from their sins. So, who is your father?
Christ partially answered this when He said, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” (Matthew 23.9) It isn’t possible he meant NOBODY, since in today’s reading, He admitted the Abraham was their father. There has to be more to fatherhood.
Saint Paul considered himself to the father of the Church in Corinth when he said, “Yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1st Corinthians 4.15) Abraham was their father before Christ, and Saint Paul was their father after.
So again, I ask, “Who is your father?” As Orthodox Christians our spiritual father is the one who guides us in the faith to grow closer to Christ, not further away from Him. Our spiritual father is one who prays for morning and night, so that we will be like Christ.
Consider the one who truly guides you, and that will be your answer. Are you guided by your coworker, your spouse, your favorite celebrity? Anyone can be your father in this sense which is why I suppose Christ warned us when He said, “You are of your father the devil.” (John 8.44)
I invite you to assess who it is that guides you in life. That one is your father, and if he or she guides away from Christ and His Church, then you are in danger of not recognizing Him when He returns to save us. The Jews were led astray. Don’t allow yourself to be led astray.
