Introduction
Today we are witnessing a wave of younger people, probably in their 30’s by the time they are matured in self-discerning, aware that they lack fathers and mothers in God. The New Testament teaches us that this is hardly a new phenomenon, “you have countless guides…not many fathers”(1 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 14-17). In their seriousness about the Lord, a wonderful gift, they are also straining to hear the Spirit of God for themselves. In response to this ongoing widespread discipleship crisis, I am planning to do a public teaching series on “The Disciplines of God the Father”. This topic is to be grounded in the critical passage in Hebrews chapter 12, “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”” verses 5-6. By attaching spiritual sonship to the character and revelation of God as “our Father”, this passage goes on to expound suffering as an indispensable source of maturity in the Christian life. In this, Jesus is our perfect paradigm.
Suffering as Sons
Unlike the popular teachers of our day, the author of Hebrews unapologetically expounds about Christ, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him”(chapter 5 verses 8-9). Although Jesus was never sinful (Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15),he needed to be completely matured through suffering to return to the Holy Father (John chapter 17 verse 11)as our complete Saviour and Mediator. For this, he chose to walk the difficult course of self-denial rejected by Adam and Eve (Romans chapter 5 verses 12-17).
This is not to say that suffering in itself is the cause of glory, but in our fallen cosmos, it is the sole means of glory: ““O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”” (Luke chapter 24 verses25- 26).
Identification is Intercession
The current crisis of discipleship in Australia is, first of all, a crisis in prayer. There are few father-intercessors because few are grasped by the revelation of the cross. The suffering Christ teaches us that only by his perfect identification with sinners, only be “becoming sin”(2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21)did Jesus become the complete Mediator:“he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25), “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy chapter 2 verses 5-6). Only by taking into himself the suffering of a world in darkness distanced from God(Mark chapter 15 verse 36), and making all things new in resurrection, can Jesus reconcile the world to God (Colossians chapter 1 verse 20).
Recurrent Death and Renewal of the Mind
We come into possession of “the mind of Christ”(Philippians chapter 2 verse 5)as we progressively learn through the pains of life, under the all-wise discipline of “the Father of spirits” (Hebrews chapter 12 verse 8)to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5). This involves presenting our broken ideas and attitudes up as living sacrifices to the Lord (Romans chapter 12 verses 1-2)to be healed in the power of his death and resurrection. Only by this means, can Paul’s testimony, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians chapter 6 verse 14) become true in our personal experience.
Conclusion
All who would grow in holiness of life must indwell “the power of his resurrection (and) the fellowship of sufferings” (Phil 3:10). This is manifestly impossible apart from the power of the “eternal Spirit”(Hebrews chapter 9 verse 14), who enabled both the death and resurrection of Jesus, and who now lives in our mortal bodies(Romans chapter 8 verse 11). Only through embracing this difficult journey can we ever understand that the discipline of God as our heavenly Father repeats and extends the gospel of Jesus in our lives.
The Rev. Dr John Yates is an Anglican minister in Perth and has 5 children and 7 grandchildren. He spends time in praying, mentoring and writing.John Yates’s previous articles may be viewed athttp://www.pressserviceinternational.org/john-yates.html