Mark 14:32-42
The Prayer of Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Romans 8:15-17
We Cry, Abba, Father
15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Galatians 4:1-4
Children of God
1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Ephesians 5:15-21
God the Father
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
When Jesus used the Aramaic word for Father, it may have surprised or shocked the disciples...Jesus describes God as His Father throughout the four gospels...He has a unique relationship with His Father...Then in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus calls His Father, Abba...Abba means Daddy...It might have been shocking to know that God Almighty, The Rock, the Holy of Holies, the One who Created all things, YWAH, is also called Daddy...Jesus has a very personal relationship with His Father, and it shows ever so much in the Garden of Gethsemane...Jesus is His Son...And Daddy is appropriate here, they night of His arrest...Jesus calling His Father, Abba shows the closeness of the Two, and how personal their relationship is...
Many people see God as a distant figure high in sky or in heaven...God is more than One waiting for us to sin...He is not just waiting to judge us, and discipline us, He is wanting to love us...He does love us...He loves us as a Father...Jesus knows these things and tries to teach us about His Father, His Daddy...Jesus is the way to the Father, and He calls the Blessed One, Abba...Jesus wants us to call Him Father, or Abba...In the LORD's Prayer, He tells us to address God, as Our Father in heaven...
St. Paul tells us that we are children of God...And if we are indeed children of our Father, we can call Him Abba...We can have this personal relationship with Him as His Son teaches us...Our Father has given us a Spirit, and put that Spirit in our hearts...He has given us a way to Him, His Son...Jesus has died for our sins...He has made it possible for us to get to the Father, and be an heir of the Blessed One -as He is...
Like the Great Father that He is, He wants to be involved in our lives...All good earthly fathers want this...They want their children to be healthy, good, successful, all these things...God want to be all this and more...He wants to love and comfort us as the Great Father that He is...Let us sing and make music in our hearts to the LORD, always giving thanks to God our Father for everything in our lives in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ...Let us try to make our relationship more personal with our Father, as He teaches us...