A Rebellious Son

Deuteronomy 21:18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

This is the Law as God has given concerning rebellious sons. (Yes, we have grace and the Law is long forgotten even by the Jews; for like God’s adopted children, His chosen sons and daughters are also a rebellious people.)

Many rebellious christian parents live in rebellion against Christ.

How can the son of your seed or the fruit of your womb become faithful to the Lord when their mother flaunts disobedience and their father shrugs off the counsel of the Lord; IF even both father and mother remained joined as one in their home as witness to God’s unfailing love?

Christ Jesus used the example of children more than once.

IF we are to call ourselves children of Christ (Christians) and call God our Father, should we not set the example of Christ’s holiness between our Holy God and our children called to holiness?

• “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did… John 8:39b

We must follow Him with the faith of a little child as did the Disciples. We must accept the discipline and rebuke of Jesus, growing through scripture and the Spirit in a full knowledge of our Lord and Master (as the Disciples would call Jesus.)

What a responsibility for parents to be the master (rhabbi) of God’s children given into our care for a brief time.

Think of your own children (of whatever age) and hear the close relationship of leading between Jesus and those in His care for three years prior to the occasion of this little-noted scripture from this time leading up to His Holy Sacrifice on the Cross for all the children who call Him, “Lord” and Master:

John 12

35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

The Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

John 13:33 

• Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

Jesus has made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and proclaimed to the crowds that the light of God is with them for only a while longer until they will walk in darkness. He and His Disciples break the bread of the Passover Seder together in an upper room in Jerusalem, after Jesus has washed their feet… each of them, including Judas.

Hear how Jesus loves and addresses them:

“Little children, Jesus calls these grown men who serve Him as Lord.”

What does this have to with the role of a Christian dad, a Christian mom?

We hold this same love and responsibility for the little sheep of our family fold.

Do your children see the uncompromising righteousness of Christ and His overflowing love through you, beloved Christian parent?

Are you a parent in the Image of Jesus?

To be continued…