Sunday, April 3, 2011

Who’s Your Daddy?

One day at the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis, I had a witnessing opportunity with three kiosk employees who were all Jewish. When I mentioned Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah coming from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), one of the women objected because He wasn't born of a human father. A friend of mine later reminded me of Isaiah 7:14, which says that the Messiah must be born of a virgin woman. The Holy Spirit probably didn't bring that Scripture to my remembrance because this Jewish woman was quite contentious and said she had to “get back to work.”

The fact that Jesus had one earthly parent and one divine parent is proof He fulfilled Isaiah 7:14. He had to be born of a virgin woman (not man) so his father had to be God and not a man. This fact speaks for Him and not against Him. Who else could fulfill it?

My friend also pointed out to me that according to Orthodox Judaism the Jewish lineage is inherited through the mother. If the father is an Eskimo (or more rare, if there’s no earthly father) he is still a Jew and from the tribe of the mother, as long as the mother is Jewish.

There’s also the principle of inheritance from the father through adoption. Jesus may not have biologically come from the tribe of Judah, but legally he still is. This would also make Him a true son of David and have a right to inherit the throne of the kingdom according to the prophecy.

Regardless of how your earthly father raised you, you can have a relationship with the perfect daddy in Heaven if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Son of God said in John 14:9, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Jesus said in John 12:44-45, He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.”

Sadly, many people have distorted ideas about Father God. During a recent road trip through Wisconsin, I felt led to witness to a truck stop employee by asking him, “Did you know God loves you and has an awesome plan for your life?” This man wasn’t open to the gospel because he thought God “took his son.” I pointed out Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy but Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly (John 10:10)

Whether or not a person believes in God, he or she has a spiritual father. Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Who’s your daddy?

“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding.” - Proverbs 4:1

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