His Father, Our Father

by Pastor J. Lowell Harrup

Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven... (Matt. 6:9)." While many no longer read the King James Version of the Bible (who says art today?), most memorized that prayer in the 15th century cadence so it is prayed that way in public.

"Our father in heaven," - my father is in heaven, but Jesus is not referring to him. My father is in heaven because of the action of "Our father" who opened up heaven for him. My dad was earthly, and at times even earthy. He originated on earth, was born in Sussex County, Virginia. His early life was spent between Disputanta, Va., and the Dismal Swamp on the border of Virginia and North Carolina. Poor people called him and his family poor. While he later became a college president, one doesn't come from that area and not have some earthy influences. I think about him, but it never occurs to me to pray to him. He was my earthly progenitor, and if it had been left up to his natural abilities, I would have no hope of heaven, nor of anything there, nor would he.

This prayer then, is a revelation from Jesus, whose Father was in heaven. He did not originate in heaven, He originated heaven. He did not come from heaven, heaven came from Him. He chose to make heaven his dwelling place and sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to introduce heaven to us. And Jesus included us in His privileged position as being able to call His father our father.

It is said that a boy is never a man until his father dies. While, like most sayings, this is not wholly true, there is truth in it. When one's father dies, a resource and frame of reference for life is removed. As imperfect as fathers are, they had some impact on a son's life (though in our society that is lessening). Their absence leaves a vacuum.

The Jews, in rejecting Christ, arrogantly held to Abraham (Luke 3:8) or Jacob (John 4:12) as their father. Jesus did not dispute that, for they refused to see His heavenly origins. Going backward in time was the best they could do. For them, Abraham originated their covenant; they forgot that the other "covenanter" was the Father in heaven.

To make this even more personal, Jesus not only said "Our father," he repeatedly said, "Your father," speaking of His father. Each time it was in the context of our father being involved in our lives, within reach, watching over us, supplying before we even ask. Read Matthew 6 and 7, and Luke 11 and 12. Jesus says, "your Father," i.e., "our Father." is seeking a personal time with us - wants us to do many things in private, such as praying and giving - so He can reward us publicly.

The apostle Paul grasped this privilege and included the language in his writing. He opened five of his letters (1 and 2 Cor. Gal., Eph., Phil.) to the churches the same way, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (NIV)." What a message from heaven from the one who came to earth and went back to heaven, and the one who sent him - all so that we could say with Jesus, "Our Father" and know that He is our Father.