My Father's Business- To Seal You His

My Father's Business- To Seal You His.

 ~A Reason For Easter~

By: Jacob Sok

*It is my prayer that the Spirit of our Lord and Savior may accompany the reader in this, a humble attempt to share my testimony of this Easter Season. I do not wish to Blog in hope of seeking a chance to flex spiritual prowess or for a want of praise- and if there be any good from this article: I pray it than can serve as a means by which His light and love can touch your heart this Easter.*

Since I first heard the song in my youth, this lyrical testimony as penned by Michael McLean, has caused much reflection and now even beyond its melody- the words are what I have come to appreciate in this piece. Consider this encounter in the lyrics of this special song: 

He was working late one evening, 

With the wood he knew so well,

When she thought,

She recognized him,

Though at first,

She really couldn't tell,

As she humbly begged his pardon,
A strange sadness swelled inside,
When she asked,
"aren't you the father
Of that man they crucified?"
Then the carpenter repeated,
What he's said so many times,
He said, "I was not His father,
He was mine."

The song continues:

Then they talked for hours of Jesus,

And how He knew He was divine,

He said, "I was not His father,

He was mine.

For how could one, 

So foolish and so flawed,

Ever hope to raise,

The Son of God?"

Then he spoke,

Of the misgivings,

That he had had,

a thousand times,

And how Jesus found,

the tender moments,

To let him know,

He had done just fine

Then the carpenter recited,

The greatest truths,

he'd ever learned

And testified

they all came from Jesus

And then her heart

within her burned,

They embraced as she departed,

And Joseph told her one more time,

"Tell them I was not His father

Tell them He was mine,

No, I was not His father,

He is mine!"

{I Was Not His Father, By: Michael McLean}

While I recognize that this interaction between Joseph and this woman is not official scriptural canon; I still can not help but feel the truthfulness behind the message of the piece and what I have come to feel and accept to be this carpenter's sentiments. 

Joseph truly was not the father of Christ, Christ is ours.

Christ, Lord of Lords and King of Kings- Is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the Only begotten Son of the Father, our elder Brother. The only one to have lived a perfect life, giving His will to that of His Father's. These truths I hold in my heart, and are accepted amongst most believers.

However, I wish to emphasize one particular role of the Savior, alongside the lyrics of the song we just read together. A role, not particularly recognized, yet none the less real: Christ as our Father. From what we know about the nature of the godhead and as stated by the First Article of Faith; "We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ. And in the Holy Ghost." Three distinct personages, yet one in purpose. 

To then call Christ,  the Father, might spawn some confusion. The Book of Mormon offers some clarity on this truth in the Book of Ether Chapter 3. In verse 19 we read, "Behold I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and daughters." This statement by the Lord is not a contradiction to the truth that we know to be of there being both God the Father, and Jesus the Son. 

This verse actually only complements that truth with a another part of doctrine, also found in the scriptures. In John chapter three the Savior taught the Pharisee Nicodemus that, "man must be born again". The role of a Father is to beget life. God the Eternal Father, is He who begot our spiritual lives in that great pre-mortal realm. Our father's here on earth  were those who helped beget our mortal lives. With Christ then to be the father of our spiritual rebirth, in fulfillment of this commandment to "be born again", a new commencement or life in Christ. 

I pray that this truth will not appear trivial or irrelevant, rather that it may serve as foundation to show why I feel the reason to celebrate, and sing songs of praise; especially this time of year. With a true understanding of the roles of the Savior, we are only left to ponder and internalize His eternal importance. I find myself rather at a loss for words, and pray this humble declaration only pays tribute to Him, of whom I testify. 

The title for my message comes from the Book of Luke, where we find the account of the young Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. There He was found teaching the Chief Priests and Teachers of the land. This was done unbeknownst to his earthly father and mother, Joseph and Mary. They in recognition of His absence, return to Jerusalem in a desperate search for their young Son. In what I imagine to be a cacophony of anxiousness and sudden relief, they find the Lord in the aforementioned temple. 

Jesus then draws unto His overwhelmed parents and is asked, why He had departed from their sights? "Son, why hast thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."(Luke 2:48) "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"(Luke 2:49). 

When contemplating the importance of Easter, My mind drew unto this simple teaching from the Savior; that He is about His Father's business. What is His Father's business?  May I suggest that the simple fact that the young Lord being found in the company of the people, serves a testimony that WE are His Father's business. 

"For God so loved the world", for He so loved us, "that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The more I study and come to know the Savior, the more I realize it was not about Him- the whole concept of our existence was about a divine plan and love for us. I have shared it before and I will share it again, God is more that mere deity- He is our Eternal Father, invested in the life of you and me. No hidden agenda, no red tape clauses or dogeared policy- Jesus took it upon Himself, the task of making sure that we not only feel welcomed home but also know the path to once again return home. 

The role of Jesus Christ in His Father's business, was predestined to be- an atonement being both infinite and eternal on behalf of all of God's children. This eternal sacrifice would enable Christ to beget new spiritual life, a redemptive rebirth on our path to our heavenly home. This is done as we draw near unto Him through adherence to His teachings and a conscious effort in keeping sacred covenants. 

In the Book of Mosiah chapter 5 we are taught, "because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons and daughters; for this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him..." (Mosiah 5:7)

"And under this head are ye made free...I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives." (Mosiah 5:8). This path offers the blessing of having His name written on our hearts (see Mosiah 5:12), by which one day we shall be called and known as "the name of Christ." (see Mosiah 5:9).

Recently I have contemplated the significance of having His name, upon us. I came across this insight from one of my favorite Gospel Instructors- Brad Wilcox who shared this:
"When Michelangelo carved the Pieta  the beautiful renaissance sculpture of Mary holding the dead Christ in her arms, it was considered a masterpiece from the moment it was created. This masterpiece of masterpieces drew people from far and wide. They marveled at how flesh-like the stone had become, they marveled at the delicate folds in Mary's clothing, and marveled at the expressions on the face of Mary and her dead son. They marveled at the out of world peace this artist was able to communicate.

And one after they other said that there is no way that this could have been made by Michelangelo. He was twenty-three, and they said no way could something this wonderful be made by an artist so young. That very night Michelangelo picked up his chisels once more, and he went and by the light of candles; he carved on the banner that went across Mary's chest: Michelangelo of Florence Made This. He signed it. When we covenant and renew our covenants, it is as if Christ is writing across our hearts: Jesus of Nazareth is Making This. We don't just take His name, He signs us- for He is making us." (Time Out For Women Address, 2012).

Is not that His Father's business, to make more of us than we ever could of ourselves. This truly is the miracle of Easter- the miracle of everyday. For once more we read in the Book of Mosiah Chapter 5 verse 15, "be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all."

If we are to sing of that silent night in the peace of a lowly stable, or claim to take joy in the chorus of Hallelujahs pronounced from a gloriously empty garden tomb- It would be because the life of Jesus Christ was lived in His Father's business, the trade of loving us. The miraculous event on the Holy Week and the event prior to, gave Christ the capacity to not just pay the price for our sins but the price for us. Christ is the Father of new life, second chances and hope.

It will serve as my testimony and humble witness that Christ wills to seal us His. I know that I matter to Him. I know the joy of walking in His path, and calling upon His name. I know the living Lord is invested in me. I never sat at the Mount of Olives to witness the resurrection, I was not present at the ministry of Him in the Americas long ago, I was not found in 1820 in a sacred groove of tress when His work and business would be issued again: but in my own simple and personal way wish to hold my own ground and say I know Jesus is the Christ. Just as a loving father would, He hears and answered my calls for help, and that is enough for me to sing-

"He lives, my sure rock of faith,
The one bright hope of men on earth,
The beacon to a better way,
The light beyond the veil of death"
{My Redeemer Lives, By: Gordon B. Hinckley}

This I share with my love for you and my prayer that we enjoy the reason for this Easter season!
In His name Amen.



For further study please consider the following sources-
- Luke 24 (New Testament)
-Mosiah 5 (Book of Mormon)
- None were with Him, By: Elder Jeffery R Holland (General Conference 2009, LDS.org)


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