When Jesus is baptized, the heavens are split, the Spirit descends in the form of a dove, and Jesus hears the words, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). The Father speaks to him with words of tender love. Jesus has an intimate relationship with God the Father.

Later, Jesus is praying, and he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36. Joachim Jeremias, a German Lutheran theologian, writes: “[Jesus] spoke to God as a child to its father: confidently and securely, and yet at the same time reverently and obediently.”

One time, when I was visiting a touristy site, there was also a young Jewish family visiting. My attention was drawn to them as I heard one of the children call, “Abba, Abba look at this.” It was the same word Jesus had used in the garden. When children call their father’s “Abba” in twenty-first-century Jerusalem, it does indeed mean “daddy,” or “papa.” And that it’s the same Aramaic word Jesus and Paul used 2,000 years ago when addressing God the Father makes me pause.

Doesn’t that seem a bit too intimate to use when we address God? At first, I couldn’t even imagine addressing God this intimately. But look at what the apostle Paul writes in Galatians 4:6-7; 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Some writers have said that we can call God Daddy. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I do believe that we can have the same intimate relationship that Jesus had with our Heavenly Father. I long for a relationship that lets me see God as my perfect, loving, giving, never-failing Father.

Abba Father, thank you for adopting me through Jesus. To understand that I am an heir of your kingdom is beyond anything I could imagine. But I must admit that there are times when I feel the need to crawl into your lap and feel your arms enfold me. To know that you have me and will never let me go. It makes a difference each day to know that you care about me. Even when it seems that everyone has turned against me, that I feel unlovable, these are lies from the deceiver. Thank you, Abba Father. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.