Family Resemblance
I walked into the business where dad had worked since he was a young father of three. Sue, one of dad’s co-workers, with a voice everyone within 50 feet could hear, giggled and shrieked, “Oh my gosh! Come over here by the picture board, Doug.” She had just recognized something astonishing. “You look JUST LIKE YOUR DAD in this picture!!”
To celebrate his birthday, the staff placed a 3’ x 4’ poster board of crazy fun pictures of him by the front entrance. It was true. The resemblance between dad and me in this picture was remarkable. And, the attention her action generated was a little embarrassing.
I have grown more like my dad since then, not so much in looks, but in thought, mannerisms, and how we talk the same. Maybe you’ve watched Dr Rick in the Progressive commercials helping people avoid “becoming their parents.” It’s a mockery regarding respect for parents. I am proud to become more like my father. And, as a follower of Christ, I work to become more like my heavenly Father.
Jesus resembles his Father, especially on earth. And not just a little. In fact, He acknowledged, “I and the Father are one.” He meant unity in purpose, in will, and in work. Literally, “The Word [of God] became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus also humbly revealed this to his critics, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
One Sunday morning I was standing in front of the mirror, knotting a tie. Our 2 year old walked into our bedroom and began watching. Satisfied with the tie length and knot, I looked down to the floor inside the closet. I must have shown disappointment or concern not finding the shoes I was looking for. Matt was watching closely. He carefully looked me over head to toe. Instinctively he left without saying a word. A moment later he was back in the bedroom carrying my dress shoes. Without one word exchanged, he figured out what I was looking for and retrieved my shoes.
This is a simple picture of Jesus and his Father. Jesus knew what his Father wanted, and did his Father’s will on earth. How did he know? By spending time studying his Father. Jesus spent time communing with His father, an intimate exchange of thought and feelings, through prayer. Through prayer, Jesus learned his Father’s heart.
There is only one Jesus, one Savior, one Son of God. You and I are not him. As a follower of Christ, I can and should, however, resemble Jesus by carrying on his work. How? Through the same method, communing with Father God, in order to learn His heart and do His will.
This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.…”
Did Jesus really say that? Did he mean I would do “even greater things” than he did? How?
Jesus modeled for us, family resemblance. In everything Jesus did, he resembled his Father. He did nothing that did not resemble who his Father was. And he asks you to learn to do the same.
How do I begin to look, speak, and act like Jesus, like Father God?
Get to know God. Commune with Him in prayer. Act like family, because you are. Practically this means read and digest God’s Word. You too can live out the Word, make God’s Word and Kingdom become flesh through your life.
The Bible describes a triune God; Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us what God likes and doesn’t like. It also instructs how to act as a family member, a member of His Kingdom.
The key is communing, relationship, an exchange of your heart with God, and His with you. This happens through the Holy Spirit, the gift Jesus gave to his followers. Holy Spirit helps you understand God’s Word, highlights the path you should walk, empowers you to do God things…
Simply put, listen and do. Or like the old hymn Trust and Obey. Live out what you are hearing and learning from Holy Spirit as he translates the heart of God to your heart. “The work of God is this; to believe in the one he has sent.” As Jesus resembled the Father, you resemble Jesus.
The resemblance I bear of my father didn’t stop that day I stood by the poster board. I continue growing in resemblance to my dad. And now my boys look and sound like me, who look and sound like grandpa. In fact, two of them look so much like each other, they are constantly being called by each other’s name. We laugh at long conversations they have with others who don’t know whom they are talking with. And when we’re all together, friends who call the house are often confused as to who answered the phone. We all sound alike. Family resemblance, it’s a compliment.
When it comes to resembling our Heavenly Father, we do so by faithfully loving others and being creative. “God is love.”
You are never more like God that when you love and create.
“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. This is why the ancients were commended. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
“Others will know whose you are by your love for one another.”
Now is a great time to come together as family of God, bear our Father’s image, and do the work of His son, Jesus. There’s a family reunion planned. Let’s make it a BIG one!
NIV Scripture References: John 10:30; John 1:14; 5:19; 14:1-3, 11-13; 6:29, 1 John 4:8, Genesis 1:1,Hebrews 11:1-3,6, John 10:35; 13:35, Matthew 24:36–44