THE SON
Now that I’ve discussed briefly the Father, let me discuss ever-so-briefly the Son. I say ever-so-briefly because volumes have already been written of the Son. This brief synopsis will not go in much detail, but may paint Him in a slightly different light. The Father is easier, to me at least, to discuss. He is much more universally believed. He is at least partially understood by many in several key religions. The Jews, Muslims and Christians all believe in the same Father. Strange how we see Him so differently . . .
Dorothy Sayers, in “The Mind of the Maker”, referred to the Son as the Autobiography of the Father. That window into the Father should be a blessing to those who know the Son. Knowing the Son, and the Father as illuminated by the Son, should bring joy and thanksgiving into the hearts of all who know Him. The burden is not in knowing the Son; the burden is in trying to introduce Him to others in a way that is not judgmental, but joyous. Jesus said that He comes from the Father, He knows the Father and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. All are profound statements and, to me at least, pretty simple to understand.
We are all children of the Universe Creator Father. How His Creator Son was able to focalize on this planet is way beyond me; but He did. Why He focalized is also not in my purview; but one of the reasons had to be to reveal the Father. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). How befitting that Dorothy Sayers should refer to Jesus as the autobiography of the Father.
So the Co-Creator of our universe focalized Himself on this earth to teach us about the Kingdom and to reveal to us the true nature of the Father . . . by His Words and His Deeds. During His brief stay, He said over and over again that He performed the Will of the Father . . . and that His Father is our Father and that if we know Him, we also know the Father. Though He knew He had to leave, He also told us that He would send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth is not the same as the Holy Spirit (but that knowledge will have to wait for another time). The Spirit of Truth is the Son’s Spirit. It is that “book”, that “autobiography” that we keep inside ourselves as a reference. It is like having “The Word” in us . . . to guide us and to help things make sense. The Son knew He had to leave this earth so that everyone, on earth, would have Him (His Spirit) in themselves just like the Disciples had Him once in their presence. It seems complicated . . . but oh how wonderful it is to have Him with us all of the time.
One of my favorite parables is the one about the prodigal son. It follows the lost sheep and the lost coin. I believe that is how the Master told them. The Master’s parables normally keyed on one simple truth. Heaven’s joy in bringing a lost child into the fold is key to all three of these parables. But, I believe, the parable of the prodigal son adds another dimension. At the end of the prodigal son parable, the other son becomes angry with his father for his perceived preference and attention to the prodigal son. At the conclusion of the parable, the father looks at the angered son and kind of says, “What’s your problem? You’ve been with me all the while. You could have had a party anytime you wanted one.”
That parable has been a driver for me ever since the Spirit of Truth explained it. If we have the Son and the Father in our lives, we should be ecstatic. We may not be partying all the time, but the joy of our salvation and the peace that passeth all understanding should be in our hearts and our minds always. Those who know the Son should be so happy that their happiness is contagious to all who watch. That is how we introduce others to the Son . . . by our joy . . . not our judgment . . . and not our sorrow. Few want to spend time with someone who judges them all the time . . . or is angry . . . or unhappy. Be joyous that the Son is in your life . . . and that joy will spread to others.
Not sure I was able to describe the Son any better than others who have tried before. I’m just ecstatic that I know Him and that He is in my life always . . . and I wish the same for you.
Dorothy Sayers, in “The Mind of the Maker”, referred to the Son as the Autobiography of the Father. That window into the Father should be a blessing to those who know the Son. Knowing the Son, and the Father as illuminated by the Son, should bring joy and thanksgiving into the hearts of all who know Him. The burden is not in knowing the Son; the burden is in trying to introduce Him to others in a way that is not judgmental, but joyous. Jesus said that He comes from the Father, He knows the Father and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. All are profound statements and, to me at least, pretty simple to understand.
We are all children of the Universe Creator Father. How His Creator Son was able to focalize on this planet is way beyond me; but He did. Why He focalized is also not in my purview; but one of the reasons had to be to reveal the Father. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1). How befitting that Dorothy Sayers should refer to Jesus as the autobiography of the Father.
So the Co-Creator of our universe focalized Himself on this earth to teach us about the Kingdom and to reveal to us the true nature of the Father . . . by His Words and His Deeds. During His brief stay, He said over and over again that He performed the Will of the Father . . . and that His Father is our Father and that if we know Him, we also know the Father. Though He knew He had to leave, He also told us that He would send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth is not the same as the Holy Spirit (but that knowledge will have to wait for another time). The Spirit of Truth is the Son’s Spirit. It is that “book”, that “autobiography” that we keep inside ourselves as a reference. It is like having “The Word” in us . . . to guide us and to help things make sense. The Son knew He had to leave this earth so that everyone, on earth, would have Him (His Spirit) in themselves just like the Disciples had Him once in their presence. It seems complicated . . . but oh how wonderful it is to have Him with us all of the time.
One of my favorite parables is the one about the prodigal son. It follows the lost sheep and the lost coin. I believe that is how the Master told them. The Master’s parables normally keyed on one simple truth. Heaven’s joy in bringing a lost child into the fold is key to all three of these parables. But, I believe, the parable of the prodigal son adds another dimension. At the end of the prodigal son parable, the other son becomes angry with his father for his perceived preference and attention to the prodigal son. At the conclusion of the parable, the father looks at the angered son and kind of says, “What’s your problem? You’ve been with me all the while. You could have had a party anytime you wanted one.”
That parable has been a driver for me ever since the Spirit of Truth explained it. If we have the Son and the Father in our lives, we should be ecstatic. We may not be partying all the time, but the joy of our salvation and the peace that passeth all understanding should be in our hearts and our minds always. Those who know the Son should be so happy that their happiness is contagious to all who watch. That is how we introduce others to the Son . . . by our joy . . . not our judgment . . . and not our sorrow. Few want to spend time with someone who judges them all the time . . . or is angry . . . or unhappy. Be joyous that the Son is in your life . . . and that joy will spread to others.
Not sure I was able to describe the Son any better than others who have tried before. I’m just ecstatic that I know Him and that He is in my life always . . . and I wish the same for you.