Like Father Like Son

I learnt generosity from my Father. That sounds like he's dead. He's not. But it's not something he needs to keep teaching me, because for as long as I can remember I have seen his generosity which comes often at great personal cost. Another way I take after my Dad has only just been discovered: Juicing. Every morning without fail my Dad fires up his juicer to make fresh juice. I never saw the attraction until Sarah recently purchased a juicer herself and I'm hooked. Pear, pineapple, tomato, carrot, celery, apple, orange, banana. Nothing with even a hint of moisture is safe. It's fate is sealed: down the barrel of the juicer.

I also have distinguishing physical features that take after my Dad. Time will tell if they are all handed down. Yet the juicer incident reveals that there's more to fatherhood than just DNA. We all take after our parents in many ways, both good and bad. I heard Don Carson recently on John 8 and he highlighted that in the New Testament period in an agrarian society, this was particularly true. The majority of sons would end up doing vocationally what their dad did. My dad is a builder. I am a shameful son of a builder because the limits of my construction skill is putting together Ikea furniture with an allen key.

The Jewish people of the New Testament made great claim on Abraham being their father. Jesus sees things differently.

If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing what your father did. (John 8:39-41)

In other words, you are nothing like Abraham who you suppose to be your father. Yet the Jewish people protest:

We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father - even God. (John 8:41)

The problem was, they had a view of fatherhood similar to that of 21st century western society. Whoever gave you half your DNA, that person is your father. They thought Jesus was suggesting their mother was maintaining a loose lifestyle. But Jesus is not calling into question their genetic heritage or their racial background. So who is their father, whom Jesus says they are like? Jesus goes on:

If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth. (John 8:42-44)

Jesus calls them children of satan. Sons of the devil. He is not attacking their biological fathers, rather he is showing that sonship is indicated by taking on the family resemblance not just by physical characteristics but by action and demeanour. They seek to murder Jesus and cannot stand to hear his words of truth. They are not of Abraham who trusted God, they are of the devil.

To believe Jesus is from the Father and to hear his words is to take on the family resemblance of God. I love to juice. But I must love even more to take after my heavenly father by believing in Jesus and hearing the word of God.