When Jesus spoke the word “Abba” referring to our Father in Heaven, He prayed using a term common to the Hebrews. The word was not Greek but Hebrew (Strong’s H1 & H2), or at least that is how it was preserved for us. When He spoke the word “Father” it was preserved for us using the Greek pater (pat-ayr). “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word” (John 17:6). Jesus manifested (revealed) the name of God the Father to those given to Him out of the world. The name Jesus used for God is a relationship name; as Jesus removed the veil between God and mankind, He revealed God in a relationship role other than a deity ruling over mankind as a stranger. Jesus revealed God as one in a relationship with mankind, “Abba, Father” or “Daddy, Papa.”

The Pharisees, the religious people of the day, hated Jesus for using such a common term for God, and for claiming that God is His Father. Freedom always causes fear and anger to those in captivity to religion (self justification). When a light is first turned on in a dark place, it causes pain to the eyes and a type of blindness to those who have become custom to the darkness. The first reaction is to cover the eyes and turn away from the light source. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). The knowledge of mankind attempts to bring the cross into the darkness; mingling grace with self justification. The message becomes, “God has set the world free, but now we all have to individually earn the grace God has given to the world.” With the cross in the darkness with them, now they can see again. But those who wait on the Lord renew their strength; the message of the cross is the power of God.

Jesus came so each and every one of us can have a relationship with God separate from the religious state. We no longer have to go to a priest, pastor, bishop, or whatever you want to call a man, to have a relationship with God in proxy. Instead we come together as brothers and sisters of one another in our relationship with God individually in Christ Jesus (we are stones – the building blocks coming together). “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5). Why did Jesus need to go all the way back to, “before the world was”? He had to go back to that point, because Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Jesus came to represent God to mankind and mankind to God before sin separated us (caused us to turn away), but appeared at a time of God’s choosing to the world. The mystery was always available to those seeking God, but revealed at an appointed time.

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.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:15-17). We endure the pain of the light entering into our darkness, and suffer by turning away from our flesh’s attempt to self justify through the cross – suffering with Jesus so we can also be glorified with Him with the glory we had before the world was. We cannot return back to our old taskmaster in bondage to self righteousness; but let our flesh suffer the cross, and let our spirit come in agreement with the Holy Spirit that we are children of God through the suffering of Jesus – now glorified with the Father, Abba.

© 2011, Tim D. Coulter Sr.