#20 Less is More – Parables About the Father (3)

[Luke 11:5] Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, [6] a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ [7] And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked and my children and I are already in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ [8] I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you want you want because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you what you need.” [9] "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (See also Matt 7:7-8)

Again, Jesus puts us in the parable. Instead of being the father (Blog #15), we are now on the other end – asking rather than giving, as in Blog #19.
Jesus paints for us a plaintive picture of distress, one that would surely warm and melt our hearts. You would expect that the friend in the house would leap out of bed go help his friend in need.

Notice that there are three friends involved here – a community of friendship. You would imagine that friendship and importunity would win the day for this asking friend. BUT
   He would not open the door
   He did not feel sorry for the plight of the out-of-town visitors at this time
   He doesn’t even volunteer to escort his friend back home.

Instead he says:
   Buzz off!
   I’ve got my own problems!
   Why weren’t you prepared?

Jesus describes human nature as it really is, as we have experienced it; as it has come to us. Jesus not only describes the rose, but the thorns of our human condition as well. There is an ugly side, defiant side to our human nature.
 
Results: But the friend will give whatever is needed. So again, the listener is placed in a parable by Jesus, as needy people to learn about receiving from the Father. Notice that the neighbor asks, even pleads, but he does not demand. How many times have even our “best” friends, Christian friends, refused us initially? Yet, even when our friend is mad or upset, our persistence wins the day. We don’t give in necessarily because we love them, but in spite of it, even when it is inconvenient!

What do we learn about the Father from this parable? We learn from life that no matter how obnoxious we are, we get what we need (not what we want) by being persistent rather than receive a punch in the mouth. We have learned from life that we can “push” pretty far.

Since we may be unable to believe that God the Father would really give from a pure motive of self-less love, unconditional love., Jesus therefore says to believe that God is just like any other person you know – He will surely give because of your boldness and persistence. Jesus is sure enough of the Father’s character to have us think less of Him than he really is, knowing that eventually we will think more of Him.