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Sunday, 21 March 2010 00:00 |
The Adoption of Mankind
Our Western Christian culture is suffering a critical crisis. Not an attack of the Faith by outward forces…physical or spiritual. Not the meltdown of governmental principalities and powers that are presumed as the prelude to varied anti-Christ’s, false prophets and world anarchy. But what we face is a beast of our own making that has a majority of loving, believing and compassionate Christians in fetters of fear, powerlessness, and pain.
What is this debilitating crisis that holds countless devoted faithful followers of Christ in its seemingly unnoticed clench?
It is a crisis of ambiguity. Our North American Christian culture has developed into a religion of vagueness and uncertainty. A nation of disguise where indistinctiveness has become its mother tongue. We have forgotten the heritage of the Lord. Segregation from the secular world, division through denomination and scriptural differences have all been agents to aid in the rise of this empirical society.
We have disregarded the seed that was sown for us all that we might enjoy the inheritance of a Father that is full of abundance for His children. A father that freely gives to all men without conditions or payment. A God that no longer regards us as servants but now as sons with full authority and legal right to all that the fathers household represents …. Yes, everything. This unwarranted sonship is beyond benevolence to such a staggering degree that the mind of man is unable to explore its vastness and greatness, yet it is the essence of the gospel of peace. And only by the awakening touch of the Father will mankind again rise to the morning glory of who they are … Gods sons.
Though I speak strongly in regard to our Christian culture understand that I also believe that God is working mightily in each local church, working mightily in the individual. Though on the surface we appear as separate entities yet in reality we are of the same household. The household of mankind… the Body of Christ.
Our lack in understanding of the Gospel or our involvement in the Christian community does not in any way stop, hinder or thwart the plans of God to unfold His Kingdom in fullness of expression in the earth. The creation does not guide the Creator.
But possibly, my ‘gentle urgings’ will help somewhat in your awakening process. The Good News is in you… listen carefully.
What is the good news?
“ For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ( the Law) but you have received the spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Rom: 8:15
The ‘good news’ that dwells in you that is the essence of every hope, your unmoving confidence and that ‘knowing’ in the core of your being. It is the Spirit of adoption that resounds in our spirit that we are indeed the sons of God. This is being led by the Spirit.
To better understand ‘the adoption’ let us first look at an overview of Hebrew tradition concerning different ceremonies that a Hebrew child takes part in as he grows to manhood.
In the life of the average Hebrew boy there were three major events which drew broad public attention to him. The first of these events was his "Circumcision," which occurred when he was an infant, at eight days old. This was the moment that he was marked as a "covenant man" in Israel, and was celebrated throughout the community.
The second major event was his "Bar-Mitzvah," which took place as he was about to enter into puberty. The word Bar-Mitzvah actually means "a son accountable," or ‘a son of the Law’ and this signified the time, not only when he was held accountable for keeping the Commandments of God, but also when he was to become an apprentice under his father in the family business. This, too, was celebrated as a very special event in the life of the child, just as it is today.
The third event was what was known as the "Huiothesia," or the (young man's) "adoption ceremony." The word "Huiothesia" means "Son Placement," and indicates the time when a male child reached what was considered to be the age of maturity (somewhere around 30). At this time, the father of the young man would place his hand on the head of his son and openly proclaim, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased! I bestow upon him now all of my riches and power and authority (through power of attorney) so that he might act on my behalf in all of my affairs." This was referred
to as the revealing ( grk: apokalupsis ) or unveiling.
Now let us look into the life of Christ to see the parallel. On the eighth day the baby was circumcised according to tradition which signified him as a ‘covenant child’ of Israel. But more than that, he was named Jesus. At his birth, the angels proclaimed than this was the good news of great joy to all the people of the earth. All the host of heaven proclaimed “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men”. This was the event long ago spoken of by the holy prophets of God for the deliverance of Israel and indeed all of mankind. Now was there only the peace of God towards men and His goodness/righteousness upon all.
As Jesus was brought into the temple there was a man, Simeon, full of the Holy Ghost that took the babe up in his arms and blessed God and uttered words that held the great mystery now revealed “ my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel”. More than a covenant son of Israel but the covenant made flesh. The Word of every promise spoken towards man has now taken on the fleshy shroud of men to accomplish the will of the Father.
Further looking at this parallel of Hebrew tradition and Jesus’ own life, we are told in the scripture how the family was in Jerusalem for the passover. Jesus was twelve years old. Upon leaving Jerusalem they discovered that their young son was not with them. They sought him for three days in anguish until they found him sitting with the doctors of the Law. When his mother, Mary, expressed her concern over his disappearance he simple said, “ … did you not know that I would be about my Fathers business?”. This was Jesus’ Bar-mitzvah and he had now become an ‘apprentice’ of his Father. A son of accountability, a son of the Law.
Finally, we have Jesus coming to the waters of the Jordan river where the voice of John the Reformist reverbs along the banks, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. And the glory cloud of God appeared as all eyes turned to His brightness and as the voice of the ancient of days resounded, “ This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. This was the ‘Huiothesia’ of Jesus; His adoption ceremony. As John witnessed this glory cloud descending upon Jesus he recognized it as the hand of the Father being laid upon the Son who was now being given all authority of the Fathers house, no longer a son of the Law but a son of redemption.
The unveiling of the son is no small matter in Hebrew tradition in fact it is everything. The unveiling is the strong thread that holds the community together. It is the reason they remain as ‘one’ body.
“ … we made known unto you the power and coming ( parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. 2 pet. 1:16-17
“ … And this voice that came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount” verse 18
As a Hebrew man, Peter understood the significance of this event. He recognized this ‘voice’ to be the same sound he heard on the holy mount where he was literally ‘carried together’ with Jesus ( in Him) and saw that the glory of the Father and the Son was a shared glory. And when he wanted to build tabernacles for Moses, Elijah and Jesus, the voice, full of power, proclaimed that Jesus was the son of privilege, the first born son … ‘hear of him’ as the head of my household, as the Master. The glory that was His before the foundation of the world was now being made manifest. The age of Moses was drawing to an end … this was the end of the world Jesus had prophesied about nearly a generation earlier. The Day of Elijah, also, was seeing its last sunset as the morning splendour of the eternal Day of Christ’s Kingdom was soon on the horizon.
So what significance does the adoption of the Son of Man have to do with man? Everything beloved! The adoption of the Son is also the adoption of all men back to the glory of paradise. Back to the relationship of father to son. Not an infant, not a child, but a full mature man reining over the affairs of the Fathers house. Not by works of righteousness lest any should boast in their own efforts but by the work of Christ who died and gave Himself for us.
AND THE GLORY ( The glory of being a full privileged son) THAT WAS HIS … HE GAVE TO US THAT WE MIGHT BE ONE EVEN AS HE AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.
We also are full privileged sons… now! We are no longer Sons of the Law waiting for judgment but have pasted from judgment and come into His glorious Kingdom. If this were not so then we are men most miserable, still under the Law, under the curse, and still in the Kingdom of Darkness.
I understand that to accept this elemental principle of Christ’s gospel could change your world forever.
Need I go any further? Or should I ask… are you willing to go further?
Michael W. Farney |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 21 March 2010 04:53 |
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