When you pray, say, ‘Abba’

by Pauline Simonsen

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If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give …! (Luke 11:13)

Read Luke 11:1–13

The disciples are watching and listening to Jesus pray. And when Jesus finishes, one of them says, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

Now the disciples were good (mostly) Jewish boys: they probably prayed the great Shema, the 18 Benedictions, and the Kaddish three times daily, as good Jews did. They spoke to God in their prayers, using Psalms as their prayer book. However, there was something special about Jesus’ praying that was new and different for them. And they wanted it.

Jewish people never addressed God so personally – they never used God’s personal name, YHWH. They didn’t think of God as Father – yet this is consistently how Jesus talks to God: Abba, Father, Dad. Today in Middle Eastern streets, you can hear children calling out to their abba. It speaks of love and intimacy, of childlike dependence. This is the relationship that the disciples perceive in Jesus’ prayers, and they wonder at it and yearn for it.

So, Jesus gives them his prayer. Their Lord’s prayer. He reworks and simplifies the Jewish prayers to honour their traditions. But Jesus’ prayer reveals God as a loving Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children! This Abba God will care for his children and provide them with all they need: daily bread, forgiveness, deliverance from temptation and evil. Indeed, he will give his own Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Paul reminds us, ‘You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children’ (Romans 8:15,16).

Jesus came to reveal the heart of God, which is that of an extravagantly loving, grace-abounding father (think of the prodigal son’s return!). Jesus shows the deep love and intimacy between him, as the Son, and God, his Father. Then, he invites his disciples into that intimate relationship, too.

And Jesus calls to us, his disciples now, and beckons us forward into the intimacy and love of this family of God. ‘Become a little child again,’ he says, ‘wholly depending on and trusting in your Heavenly Father. Come boldly and persistently, like little children do – leaping into Papa’s lap and badgering him to grant their request! Come, knowing that your Heavenly Abba loves to receive you and care for you.’

When you pray, say, ‘Abba …’

Lord Jesus, teach us to pray like you did! Please lead us to know our Heavenly Father as he wants to be known. Abba God, draw us to you and grow in us childlike trust in your goodness and love. Bless you, Abba.

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