ABBA, FATHER

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I Was Just Thinking About – ABBA, FATHER

The term – “Abba, Father” – has been paraphrased and expressed in many different ways by commentators. The expression appears only three times in Scripture: Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. By strict definition, Abba is the defining term for father in the Aramaic language, spoken by Jesus and Paul as an intimate term to characterize their personal relationships with God. It is also a term of reverence for bishops and patriarchs within the Coptic, Syriac, and Ethiopian churches. Only two speakers utter these words in these passages: Jesus and the apostle Paul.

Mark 14:36, “He [Jesus] said, Abba Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” There are at least two lessons to be learned from these words by Jesus. First is the intimacy of relationship with the Father in heaven, and secondly, His willingness and readiness to be submissive to the Father’s will.

In Romans 8:15, Paul writes as one who was in opposition to Jesus Christ and the message of the Gospel. After he is converted on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6). The narrative about Saul of Tarsus was: “Saul was still breathing out threats of murder against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest to ask for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? Who are You, Lord? Saul asked. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, He replied.” Saul would be now named Paul and his message would change from one of opposition to Jesus to one of intimacy with Him. He would then write to the believers in Rome: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’.” Paul’s message is abundantly clear. He has been unchained from his bondage; he has been adopted into the family of God by grace alone; and he now shares with them the intimate relationship one has with Abba. Father through Jesus Christ alone.

Paul will make use of this expression once more in Galatians 4:6, “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba Father!” The contextual setting is that Ceremonial Law and legalism could not achieve an intimacy with God the Father except through Jesus Christ alone. The intimacy does not allow for irreverence. Too often, there is an attempt to humanize the Godhead by referring to The Father as “Daddy” or “Papa.” That is not the intimacy being suggested or taught. It is more in terms of the Advocate and Mediator one has in Jesus Christ that allows one to come before the throne of the Father where are worship, adoration or requests can be freely offered and made known.

When Paul used the word “adoption” in Romans 8:15, there is special meaning to the term. God has adopted – chosen those to be included in His family and to be known as the children of God. This fact adoption is clearly stated in Galatians 4:4-5, “When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law, that we might receive our adoption as sons (and daughters). 

In our family, we are privileges to have two adopted children. One was a young Hungarian boy with some physical needs. He has become a very active part of a loving family. He has assimilated well and is uninhibited as a son, Grandson and Great-Grandson. The other adopted child was a teenaged girl from Ukraine. She, too, has assimilated well into the family. She arrived in this country not knowing English. She has gradually learned and it was an emotional moment when she was able to refer to her adoptive parents as Mom and Dad, and to my wife and I as Grandma and Grandpa. On a human level, this is intimacy.

In one’s relationship to the Heavenly Father, intimacy and reverence should never be severed from each other. We come before Him in and through Jesus Christ to thank Him for making us a part of His eternal family. We are never flippant, matter-of-fact or irreverent to Him or before Him. The Lord’s Prayer is a good place to learn how one is to come before Him. “Our Father in heaven; Hallowed be Your name…”

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.