“Like Father - like Son”

Here on earth, family ‘likenesses’ impress us. We see facial images and other recognizable expressions in our newborns. Later, characteristics and personality traits are more evident in maturity. By these we KNOW we belong to a family and have a rightful part to play, responsibilities to face up to, with service to render and joys to share.

There, in heaven we would see even greater likenesses. The Heavenly Father, delighting in the presence of His own Son; right there, alongside Him, sharing in the vital, on-going work of glorifying His Father, and at the same time, redeeming ‘the lost sons and daughters’ - His Father’s unique creation. But it began here on earth, with our Lord bearing the same experiences and nature as we have. We might say, the Lord Jesus Christ was then, now is looking upward, looking downward at the same time?

The Word of God reveals the matchless beauty of the Father/Son relationship between Yahweh and Jehoshua (The LORD and Jesus). We can ponder the process of how this happened. So much of this beauty and uniqueness is “lost” to those who mistakenly believe in the Trinity. Think over these few features:

1| His Father was able to watch him grow in “grace and favour with God and man.”
2| The Father was able to claim Jesus as His own offspring. “This is MY beloved Son – hear Him!”
3| The Son was always “free to choose” to follow “the Way” and to complete His Father’s will.
4| The Son revealed the Father’s love each day by word, example and humble submission.
5| The Father both raised His Son from the grave AND granted Him the full rights of Divine Sonship.
6| The Father appointed Christ as “heir of all things...” and the High Priest forever over His House!

We have two scenes in the Word of God that will draw our attention to how it worked.
1|Abraham and Isaac - “...so they went, both of them together.” A willing son - a purpose driven father. Genesis 22:8.
2| Pharoah and Joseph - “...only in the throne will I be greater than you.” An all powerful king and a God-fearing, lifesaving servant. Genesis 41:40.

In both examples, theirs was the choice! Isaac could have overpowered Abraham. Pharaoh did not need to give so much honor to a public servant! Our Lord is a unique combination, more willing even than Isaac, more honored even than Joseph. Jesus would have appreciated these two accounts even more than us.

Now for some homework!

Many fathers and sons appear in the Word of God as having ‘good’ and not so good relationships! Below is a short list of other examples AND some descriptive qualities that you might like to line up? And of course there is the supreme example of Joseph, Mary’s husband and the Son of God!

The Truth we enjoy is all about UNITY – not just authority.

In date / time order

Adam and Abel / Seth
Noah and Shem / Japheth
Amram and Moses
David and Solomon
Rechab and Jonadab
Zacharias and John
Paul and Timothy / Titus

In random order - you choose!

Cooperation
Protection
Education
Loyalty
Submission
Preparation
Spiritual Unity
Endurance
Faithfulness
Trust
Obedience
Dedication
Humility
Service

Bro Neil Todd (New Zealand)