The path of righteousness was illustrated, in a literal journey, with Jesus during His ministry. People joined His travels from town to town; they came out to one place or another to hear him preach and teach. Jesus often invited people to “follow me” (Matthew 4:19), recalling Moses making a journey to the Promised Land.
There were times when Jesus sent people out to ultimately see if they could point others to Jesus (Luke 10), and they came back excited that others listened to them and demons even obeyed them! But Jesus seems to softly rebuke them by reminding them that He had watched “Satan fall from heaven” (10:18-20). Then Jesus said a prayer to His Heavenly Father… “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
What did they hear in this prayer? Jesus tells a story of the Good Samaritan as an iconic view of acting Christlike on this journey of life.
Then His followers asked Jesus a question about prayer that many people still would like to know. They asked in Luke 11:1, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” A reader’s natural question might be, “What did John teach about prayer?”
But the Bible doesn’t really say what John taught; however, like Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan, John taught how we are to treat others (Luke 3:10-14). Jesus doesn’t quote anything that John taught, but He focused on the coming kingdom and offering thanksgiving just like John did. Jesus said in Luke 11:2-4, “Father, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation, [but deliver us from the evil one].”
How does this prayer reflect Jesus’ love and appreciation for His father? How does it help you to do the same for your father? We focus on Fathers on Father’s Day; consider how their example of provisions, mercy, and protection have changed your journey for the better.
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