In this episode we continue breaking ground on the story of Abraham. But this time we look at the concept of blessing, and how that shows up in God's promises to Abraham. We look at the definition of the word blessing, and how it this shapes the way we see the Abrahamic covenant. God said he would not only bless Abraham, and those who blessed him, but that all families of the earth would be blessed through him.
What's even more interesting is what the New Testament writers understood that blessing of all the families of the earth to be. Peter in Acts 3 saw that blessing as ultimately coming through the resurrected, Holy Son and Servant Jesus the Christ. Jesus, from beginning to end, stayed rooted in his own Sonship with the Father, while also fulfilling his role as the obedient Servant of God. By doing this, Jesus was able to pioneer and perfect a new, holy, glorified humanity within himself, with the resurrection bringing that process to full completion.
As someone who stayed in intimate relationship with the Father (Son), and maintained an unbroken chain of obedience to God (Servant), Jesus is the only one (Holy) who can show us the way out of the condition of evil we find ourselves in. In his own life and body, he has charted a new path for us to follow, leading us away from our evil ways and into the same path of sonship and servanthood that he himself has already walked, bringing us to participate in the same developmental process that he himself has already completed, ultimately leading to our own bodily resurrection in Christ. This is the blessing he the Holy Son and Servant Jesus brings us.
Key Passages
Genesis 12:1-3
Acts 3:24-26
The Hebrew word blessing means "to kneel"
The Greek word for Servant in Acts 3:24 can mean both son and servant
The Greek word for iniquity, wicked ways, or evil in Acts 3:24 can mean bad nature or condition
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* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music
