The Father’s Blessing
Matthew 3:13-17 June 16, 2024
Today is the celebration we call Father’s Day. The idea of setting aside a special day for fathers has a long history. It was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington in 1910. Her father was a Civil War veteran who also was a single parent and he raised six children. His daughter wanted to honor him and other fathers. The idea of honoring fathers with a special day did not catch on. Many worried that if a special day for fathers was created
it would become commercialized like Mother’s Day. There was a lot of resistance to creating Father’s Day. Congress too was worried about commercialism and the proposal was defeated twice. However, under President Richard Nixon, Father’s Day became a permanent national holiday on April 24, 1972. Today we honor fathers for their contribution to their families and to the Nation.
Father’s day is a mixed bag for some children. Several years ago I listened to a wonderful Focus on the Family Tribute to Fathers. They invited people from all over to call in and record a tribute to their fathers. The Focus on the Family people then created an audio montage which brought tears to many listeners’ eyes. I was impressed that they did not turn the program into syrupy sentiment. One adult woman called in with her pain asking her father a series of questions beginning with, “Why did you not love my mother and your six children and turn to alcohol instead?” Her pain was evident as she spoke for adult children whose fathers were in bondage to alcohol, or drugs, or work, or sports, and all manner of things that kept them from being a blessing to their children. As I listened to one man as he honored his father for being a man of faith who led him to a saving relationship with Christ Jesus, I felt a
longing within. I wish my father was a man of faith. His father rejected the nearly thousand year faith of his family, and consequently that rejection was passed down. Too many fathers turn away from their children and submit to the evil influences of the world. Yes, Father’s Day is a mixed bag.
On the other hand, I heard many wonderful tributes to fathers who were and continue to be a blessing to their children. I heard the joy in the voices of groups of children as they sang to their fathers. The tributes of love were awesome. It is obvious that God has blessed many boys and girls and men and women with fathers who indeed had a powerful and passionate faith. We need men of faith in Christ Jesus who pass on that faith to the next generation. Fathers and Grandfathers, when you are on your death bed, the kids are not going to care what your golf handicap was or whether you were an avid Colts fan. They won’t care how many promotions you received or how many hours you worked overtime. They won’t care about the trophies or medals you were awarded. They won’t care about the car you drive or your educational level. The only thing that they will care about is your love for Christ Jesus and for them. The inheritance you give your children will not be in dollars and cents. It will be in how you taught them to be men and women of strong faith who are fully equipped to deal with the joys and sorrows, the challenges and struggles of life and of death.
When I think of the Father’s blessing, I first think of the baptism of Jesus. He came to the Jordan River to be baptized by his cousin John, the prophet and the one who called people to repent and be baptized. Of course, being sinless Jesus had nothing to repent but he came to be baptized. After he was baptized, “At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:16-17).” Jesus heard the powerful voice from heaven. What did that voice say? “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” If ever there was a blessing this is the big one. God’s Spirit touches Jesus and God’s voice speaks words of love and affirmation. This experience is a pivotal point in Jesus’ life. From there he goes into the wilderness for a long period of testing, of temptation, as he begins the work God gave him. He goes with the Father’s blessing. If you want to see a blessing lifestyle, read the Gospels and know who Jesus is.
At this point, I think I ought to define blessing and curses. From a biblical standpoint, blessings are “pronouncements that variously solicit, distribute and celebrate wellbeing.” One of the first ancient blessings is the Aaronic Blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 3:24-26).” This is a strong blessing that many pastors speak over their congregations at the end of a worship service.
On the other hand, curses are “utterances spoken to consign a person or object to harm or deprivation.” In the book of Numbers, we find the King Balak of Moab hiring the non-Israelite prophet Balaam to curse Israel. The Moab king ends up asking Balaam to curse Israel three times but the Lord intervenes and Balaam blesses Israel three times. He ends up cursing Moab. In modern English, people often use ugly language in cursing others.
When the people of Israel were standing on a mountain looking into the Promised Land, Moses spoke to them of blessings and curses. He said, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life . . . you and your descendants …” (Deuteronomy 30:19). The curse comes when we turn our backs on the Lord and follow the way of the world. Moses tells them this leads to death. However, God does not want to curse the people of Israel. He wants to bless them. In the same way, God wants to bless all peoples, not curse them. The Lord wants to bless you and me. Clearly, this is a life or death matter. The blessing way leads to life; the way of the world is the way of death. What impresses me as I read Scripture and observe contemporary life is that the choices we make effect many people and many generations. Some say that it effects seven generations. I have seen families where their ancestors passed the blessing on and their descendents blossom and are a blessing for others. I have also seen families where their ancestors chose the way of the curse and each generation passes it down to the next. The Lord God gives us a choice. Choosing life means choosing the blessing way, the way of Christ Jesus.
The Christian life is the way of blessing, not cursing. The Apostle Peter wrote the First Century church about the centrality of blessing and not cursing: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).” In the Bible paraphrase, The Message, by Eugene Peterson, the verse is translated: “No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.” The way of the world is retaliation; the way of Christ is blessing. Jesus has called us to be a blessing to others.
The Father blessed Jesus, his beloved Son. How are we to bless our children and grandchildren? There are four characteristics of the Father’s blessing. (1) The first thing we must do is give them meaningful touch. It may be a hug, a hand on their back or a kiss on the cheek. We cannot bless without touching. (2) Secondly, the blessing always has a spoken message. The blessing has to be verbalized, put into words the one being blessed can understand. Put God’s generous loving kindness in words. (3) Thirdly, when you bless someone you must attach high value to them. Remember God’s blessing of Jesus? Did the Father add value to Jesus? He certainly did. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We attach high value as we tell the young ones just how important and valuable they are. (4) The last part of a blessing is that you picture a special future for the one being blessed. Children have an amazing ability to grow up into our expectations of them. As we picture for them a special future, they will most likely grow into that special future. As we give them meaningful touch, put the blessing into words they can understand, attach a high value to them and picture a special future for them, they will receive the Father’s blessing.
Okay, we have blessed our children. Is that it? No! Children need blessed again and again. Blessing is not a one-time fix. We must have an active commitment to blessing again and again. Someone might ask. “Won’t that spoil the children? Won’t they think more of themselves than they should?” Sure it will spoil them but not in a negative sense. God is in the spoiling business. He pours on us his grace in abundance. I am glad God spoils us. You cannot bless too many times. Indeed, blessing is a Christian’s lifestyle. Christians are blessed to be a blessing.
Sermon preached at Veterans Memorial Chapel by
CH (COL) Michael W. Malone, AUS, RET
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