GENDADS

THEN, HE ASCENDED INTO THE CLOUDS,  BUT DID NOT LEAVE US ALONE.

It’s been a week since the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. But it’s still fresh in way’s I’ve not experienced before. I think it hangs on for me because of the extraordinary series of events I’ve recited here that capped off my grandson’s Year of Passage.

The connection is legacy. The essence of the story on the Cross and the days that followed is legacy, it’s our biblical heritage of truths and examples passed down through the generations. We sometimes forget the history-changing events that the Gospels identify as Jesus reappears and further touches the life of His disciples (which, by extension, include us). The walk to Emmaus, the prayer meeting with the disciples, the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the announcement of the Great Commission, and the glorious ascension left us direction, left us examples…have I said this yet, “This is divine legacy.”

Jesus on the Cross left all humanity a legacy from His life. How He lived authenticated everything He said, both harsh and tender. His final, unimaginably excruciating moments on our behalf fulfilled God’s design to bring both justice and atonement to those who would follow Him. It’s a story, a legacy, that is almost too familiar to us.

Fast-forward to my grandson’s small ceremony with 10 men. I’m still gripped in its solemnity. The worshipful tone carried me into the Resurrection weekend. It also prompted new layers of reflection on how Jesus set for us the model most of us didn’t have in our fathers and wish dearly we could live out for our children.

But while the fruit of a father’s legacy is found in his sons and daughters, there are times we need to look upstream at our family heritage. Our own fathers and grandfathers often leave roots of character and love. Sometimes, not. The past bears on the future. Jesus transformed the future–forever–and passed it on to us. We, as fathers, pay that forward. Legacy.

Before the Golgotha image fades, consider how Jesus’ character on Calvary frames fatherhood…He was/is our Heavenly Father. The list is long. How about humility? He, the King, the Creator of the tree He died on, humbled Himself. He gave it up for His loved ones. Beaten and ridiculed, He was not defensive. He was, by the way, poor. Without a place to lay His head, He still provided for His family. Jesus had the integrity I long for my children and grandchildren to find in me. Like when He didn’t play Pilate’s game, didn’t annilate him, didn’te even manipulate him. Kept His cool and didn’t even answer when I sure would have…some real lip to be sure. Truth-telling was easy for Him; He was The Truth.

Not sure I ever stopped and asked, “What did Jesus show me about being a father?” Then I noticed His compassion. Had His mother taken care of with last words on the Cross. Fed, incredicably, thousands of hungry people a couple of times. Healed; good dads do that too. Remember when He took no bull from the wise-guy/rich-guy. Called it straight; firmly with grace. Hard to do. Glad He set the example.

It’s still fresh in the retina of my heart that after our Good Friday service, my wife and I watched The Passion of the Christ. What we had just heard in a sermonette, we now saw in brutal, painful, eye shielding scenes. I saw my very own Heavenly Father in the form of a young man of 32 hold His ground and give His all for me like I intend to do for my own children and grandchildren. Corny? Stretching it? Nope it’s in my spiritual DNA. Now THAT is legacy.

IS THERE JUST ONE CHARACTER TRAIT YOU KNOW ABOUT JESUS, THE CHRIST, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON FOR YOUR OWN FATHERING?