ABBA, FATHER
Most precious to us of all the titles of God, “Father” is essentially a New Testament name for the one revealed “here a little, there a little” in various Old testament titles we will consider over the next several weeks in these articles.
The final unveiling of His character as “Father” had to await the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. This simple, yet profound and wondrous name expresses the most intimate relationship with Hmself unto which He brings the redeemed among men, in Jesus Christ.
The most satisfying words the human heart can know and tongue can utter.
“Abba, Father,” are the gift of the Gospel to all who believe. It was our Lord Himself who first taught His disciples to say, “Our Father...”
Abba is an Aramaic word meaning “Father.” It is very simple to pronounce so that a baby could say it even before cutting its first tooth. It was indeed the very first word which Hebrew babies of our Lord’s day customarily spoke; and undoubtedly, was the first word formed by infant lips of Jesus. The phrase “Abba, Father” repeats the same word in Aramaic and Greek. The reason for this is that in the original scriptures the Aramaic Abba was translated into the Greek word Pater, “Father,” for the benefit of Greek -speaking readers who could not understand Aramaic. This phrase - which has become a cherished title of God - unites Jew and Gentile in a common address to Him as Father. It expresses the fact that the “middle wall of partition” between Jew and Gentile is broken down (Ehh. 2:14); we are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
The tenderness of the relationship and the wealth of grace expressed in the word “Father” can never be fully expressed. In our humane life we have a faint picture of it in every cherished tie between father and child.
The word “father” shares with “mother” the most honored place in the language of humane relationships. When applied to God it contains the full value of both worlds. Read the following passages: John 3:16, 35; 10:15, 18: 1 John 4:10. In the eternal counsels it was determined and in the fulfillment of that eternal covenant Christ came,and redeemed us unto God. “The Son of God...loved me,” said Paul, ‘and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
That love, “so amazing, so divine,” evokes responding love in our dull hearts and quickens the cry of adoring sonship, “Abba, Father.”