Spiritual Parentage

I know I have posted on this concept before, that we are both the products of our physical families as well as those whom brought us to Jesus for salvation (and hopefully discipled us!).  And in reading John 8:38-42 I find myself drawn back into this idea.  Plus once again thinking on my kids, their birth families, their orphanage families and then my family.  Whole lot of families for those poor rascals!  And families can cause a whole lot of trauma.

In this confrontation between Jesus and Jewish leaders, He shows that it is not just your physical family that is important - your spiritual family is also, if not more so!  The Jews confronting him took pride in knowing their father was Abraham!  Jesus' repsonse points out to them that linage is not just physical, it is also spiritual.  They did not possess Abraham's soul or faith.

Linage is not equal to Linkage
Motion is not equal to relationship

It is more than genetics.  My mother's female line is all Hebrew as far back as there are records.  But that did not make her a Jew, she was an atheist, as was her mother, of course great-grandmother was known to be a Jew and persecuted as such in Russia.  Hence, she became a 'Norwegian' and married a Scottish pastor.....

It is more than tradition, special prayers, attending every service, paying your tithe and keeping yourself outwardly spotless.  It is about a relationship with God and here is where the Jewish leadership failed.  They could put on a great show, but in their hearts they were all for themselves and filled with pride.

Our faith is to have feet.  Think of Abraham packing up the kit and caboodle in Ur and setting off for some distant land.  If you know your Abraham, you know that he made some mighty poor choices along the way - but his heart was sold out to God.  He followed in FAITH but the pharisees wanted to kill Jesus.  A true Jew would have lived as their father (Abraham) had - not by the corruption of this world.

Think of Galatians 5 - "walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh"
Every moment matters
Every moment is a witness whether you want it to be or not!

Father's are forever.  The old rumor mill (v41) had it that Jesus' birth was a little suspicious.  Obviously everyone knew that Joseph had not touched his fiancee, but no one had that faith in the young (teenage) Mary.  So to them, they insinuate he is without a father.

I love verse 42, both are like their fathers - one of God (Jesus), one not (the pharisees).

I always enjoy a good put down and I imagine that the pharisees were ripping their tunics over that one!  Nothing like telling someone they are the son of a motherless goat.....

:^)