Today is the 13th day of Lent, a 40 day season of spiritual reflection, repentance, and renewal. During these 40 days we’ll explore the prayer life of Jesus, walking chronologically through every mention of Jesus’ prayer life and prayers in the Gospels.
Here is today’s prayer event: 1Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:1-4 ESV)
Joachim Jeremias (“The Prayers of Jesus”) writes that in the Judaism of Jesus’ time it was common for individual religious groups to have their own customs and practices regarding prayer (63). We know that the Pharisees and the Essenes had prayer practices unique to their groups. It appears from the text above that John’s disciples did as well (“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”). Thus, here, the disciples ask Jesus to give them their own unique prayer. They want a prayer that will set them apart from the other religious groups. They literally want a “Jesus-Prayer.”
But what was the “Jesus-Prayer”? What prayer would distinguish Christ-ians from all others? What would it mean to pray in a distinctly Christ-like way?
Jeremias argues that one particular word makes this prayer distinctly Christian. One specific word sets this prayer, and all of Jesus’ prayers, apart from the known prayers of other religious groups of the time: the word “Father.” (63)
What is the significance to you of the fact that we pray to “Father,” and not just “God” or “LORD”?
Take a few moments and write on a sheet of paper 10 qualities of an ideal father. Now, pray to God, thanking him for being each of those qualities.
SHARE WITH READERS BELOW 5 OF THE 10 QUALITIES YOU’VE WRITTEN ABOUT AN IDEAL FATHER.
[image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliotj/4254473340/]
Available
Unselfish
Kind
Forgiving
Patient
I am blessed to have had a father who modeled his life after the Father. I know that not everyone feels positive about the idea of “father,” however.
I like Melanie’s list, as it matches everything I wrote. I would also add “concerned.”
My own earthly father is none of those things. I feel it very keenly to have a heavenly Father who can fill the gaps in my life that my dad is unwilling or unable to fill. My heavenly Father completes me. Although I carry around a deep sadness over the non-relationship with my dad, God Blessed me with a surprising gift a few years ago: the realization that even though that relationship may not be fixed in this life, all broken things will be made new in the next life. I can do nothing about the way my dad is or isn’t, but I have faith in the promise my heavenly Father has given me. And that faith gives me a “peace that surpasses all understanding.”
When I was eight I decided to repaint our house . . . metallic blue. At my father’s “insistence,” I spent the next two days scrubbing the paint off the white bricks of our house with steel wool. Still my father was there.
When I was nine I stole twenty dollars from my father’s dresser and then used it to buy a whole box of hockey cards. My father made me pay him back. And he never mentioned it again.
When I was thirteen I returned from the mall one day with my ear pierced, though my father had forbidden it. He didn’t talk to me for a week. Then he did again.
When I was fifteen I came home drunk late, late one night. My father sent my mother up early the next morning to wake me . . . with a pot and pan. After a week or two my dad trusted me again to go out on the weekends.
The oft-neglected book of Lamentations is written to the people of Judah in the midst of their intense suffering at the hands of the barbaric Babylonians. The Babylonians would go on to destroy Jerusalem and exile God’s people but not before every shred of normalcy was destroyed in Jerusalem. It is important to note that the Bible makes very clear that all of this came because of Judah’s sin. However, in the middle of this despairing book come these words: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:21-23). This is best summed up in the Hebrew word “chesed,” one of those words that defy accurate translation. My best try is “the steadfast covenantal love of God to the people he has promised never to abandon.”
I am blessed to have found that in my earthly father, and I am blessed to find that in God as well.
What wonderful comments and stories. Thank you for allowing us to see the Father through your fathers.
Loving, Approachable, Concerned, Listens, Provides, Encourages, Protects, Teaches, Corrects, Affirms…all things my earthly father strived to do/be and all things I aspire to be for my children.
I have attempted this list now about 10 times, but get all choked up each and every time.
I adore both my parents and my dad… well, let’s just say he is:
My hero, rock, advisor, cheerleader, friend, comforter, barometer, sounding board, encourager… and always there!!!
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