Father

...He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 15:16

I saw an interview recently of the actor who portrays Mufasa in Broadway’s The Lion King. Regarding getting into character, the actor said in essence: “At first, I looked to emulate James Earl Jones (the actor who voiced Mufasa in original Disney animation). But over time, I began to see who Mufasa really was – a father, above all. When I realized this is when he really began to come alive.” From those few words, I began to think of all of the ways we see God and who God is. He is so many different relationships to us – two being our King and our Father. His only Son, even said our “Dad.”

There are so many parallels in the story of the Lion King. The celebrated birth. Facing the Enemy. The enemy’s lies bring shame and banishment (to us) from the Paradise we were rightfully born into. Believing those lies costing us our freedom as Kingdom heirs – which was never lost, we only ran from our true home. Suffering from bondage to the enemy. Ignoring the Father's words of warning to stay out of the shadows and nearly meeting death from our pride. Only for the Father to watch over and rescue. The son’s need for and delight in friendship. Ultimate love as the motivation to return to face death and overcome the enemy’s bondage over all creatures. All for freedom – not his own, but those he fought to redeem. All turning, when he heard the Father from within to move according to his destiny and identity. “Remember who you are” is an echo for us all.

The true catalyst for the son was his love for his father. As the young lion king is reminded, “he lives in you.” So it is with the true and always Father to His children, but above all, to His only Son. Because they are One, just as we are one, in the spirit of Holy, our identity is transformed when He moves in. How quickly we forget, Who He is and who we are as His. When we begin to see who He REALLY is - Elohim as Abba – over time as He transforms us to His image in the water’s reflection - that’s when things begin to come alive.

So much of the Story – both in His Script and in our experiences – all come back to our realization of Him as Dad. He doesn’t become Dad over time – He always has, is, and will be. Our realization of Him is what changes everything: when He becomes “alive” in our stories and how we live our stories as His kids and heirs. There is a lifetime to experience Him as Dad – however clouded the lenses of life may be. But He is. And only He can meet us by the river’s edge and reveal Himself in us. Then everything changes. The wars are seen as already won. The blood spilled was for our freedom, joy, union and love with Him. And above all, we walk with Him. Immanuel Abba. Lion of Judah, Lamb of God. Dad. A father, above all.