Who's crying Father?

When we read the gospels, especially John, it's conspicuous that Jesus referenced God as Father. What's more conspicuous is that hanging on the cross, He prayed to His Father to "forgive them as they know not what they do", then right before He submitted His spirit, He cried out "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken Me?"  A rare time He addressed Him as God, rather than Father. He became estranged from His Father on the cross, taking on our sins, so we could be close to God and know Him as Father.  Jesus came to present God as something He'd not been known as before: Father God. 

Abba - which is not just a quirky pop band who sang incredibly annoying songs (oooh gasps all round from Abba fans - sorry folks), but is Aramaic for a very affectionate term for father. We would use the word "daddy". 

Daddy. We see this term Abba first in the gospel of Mark, used by Jesus in chapter 14 v 36 where He addresses His Father as Abba when He is in the garden, just before His trial, He cries, "Abba, everything is possible for You. Take away this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."  At His darkest moment on the planet, He cries out to His Daddy. It's a touching moment and I urge you to read the chapter and just meditate on His beautiful relationship with the Father as He prepares to face the coming hours.  



Two other times Abba is mentioned in the Bible. Romans 8v 15 :For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!
The other place is in Galatians 4 v 6: And because you are really His sons, God has sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba (Father!) Father!

(For anyone who likes biblical numerology like I do, it's interesting that the name makes three appearances throughout the entire bible. It is not featured at all in the old testament.)

So it is the Holy Spirit which reveals to us the Father, through Jesus. He is the one Who cries out "Abba", "daddy" for us on our behalf, calling us into the freedom of grace and allowing us to get to know our Heavenly Father, as Jesus does. It is through the Holy Spirit that we cry out to the Father. We cry out Abba in bliss at the revelation of the grace we have received through Christ. That we are now sons of God, joint heirs in Christ Jesus. And we cry out to our Father when we need Him, because that's what Jesus did and He set the example for us.

Cry out to your Abba daddy - cry out in your time of need, and cry out in bliss and praise for everything He has done for you.