Gesture No.1 - God the Father.
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God the Father is the first person in the Christian Trinity. The Right hand is held in Sikara (peak) to the right side of body to denote 'Father'. God as father is evident in the Old Testament. A large number of personal names apply the title of father to deity such as Joab, Yahweh is 'Father'. Abiel or Eliab, 'El is father'. Absalom 'the father i.e. the God is peace'. These Israelite name do not differ in number of type from similar name in Mesopotamia and Canaan. Yahweh is called the father of Israel. The title of father in Israel is a theological metaphor which expresses the love of father for his son (Ho. 11:1). This love exhibits itself in his paternal care of Israel (Ex 4:22 ff Dt. 1:31 8:s; Is 43:ff). In his compassion and forgiveness (Ps 103:12 ff, Je 3:19-20; Ho 2:1). In the New Testament the same concept of God as father includes the notion of paternal love and care )Mt 6:5-8, 26ff; 7:11; 10:29-31 18:14; Lk 11:13). Perhaps the supreme statement of God's paternal forgiveness appears in the parable of the prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). The left hand is held in Tripataka (a flag with three) to denote a crown signifying kind, the greatest. In the Gospal according to St. John, the Father appears almost entirely as the Father of Jesus in contrast to the Father of the disciples. Jesus has a unique relationship with the father, who communicate his self to men through Jesus His son and confers upon Him power and authority to execute His mission. The father is greater than Jesus (14:28 as the father is always superior to his son, and the sender to the one sent (16:25). Jesus is sent by the Father and lives through the Father (6:57) and thus is able to communicate life to those who believe in him; and He can send His disciples with the fullness of power as he himself was sent by the Father (20:21). | ||
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