For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. (John 5:20).
We have before us this Lord’s Day a verse which can bring both milk and meat to the believer. Let us sit at the feet of this Word and feast on the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
This verse comes in the midst of a discussion between Jesus and the Jews of Jerusalem concerning His Deity. Jesus emphatically declares that He is God incarnate; that is, He and the Father are One. This Oneness is not simply a subordinate obeying the will of a superior. The Father and the Son co-exist and are co-equal at all times.
This relationship between the Father and the Son extends unto all activity, purpose, and will. At all points, in all time periods, and at all times, as God the Father is working – Jesus is working (5:17). The Son does nothing of His own independent will. He is only doing what He knows the Father is doing (5:19). In the same instance that the Father acts, the Son acts. As one commentator worded it, “If the Son does all that the Father does, then, like Him, He must be almighty, omniscient, all-present, and infinite in every perfection; or, in other words, He must be God.”
How does this relationship function? Note in the verse above, that the Father eternally and continually loves the Son, for the Father loveth the Son. The expression of the Father’s love towards the Son is manifested in showing the Son all things that the Father is doing. In other words, when the Father loves the Son He does it by showing the Son each and every individual thing that He, the Father, is doing. This means that by the Son lovingly obeying the Father’s loving disclosure then Jesus is acting in such a way the He is exegeting (i.e., glorifying) God.
In like manner, brethren, the Father eternally and continually loves believers though Christ (John 15:9). Now, how would the Father choose to manifest His love towards those in Christ? How would each believer know that God the Father has loved them? The answer is found in how the Father expresses His love towards His Son. Brethren, when God desires to manifest His love towards you by Christ, He does it by illuminating you unto the works of God in the pages of His voice, the Bible.
Think on this, brethren. Have you been loved this week by God the Father? Have you seen Christ in the pages of your Bible? Has the Father given you discernment because of what He has taught you through the Son by His Spirit? Let the tears of joy and humility flow. The breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the riches of His glory is His love to you. Every iota of understanding, comprehension, wisdom, and knowledge of the truth of God is His love to you. We do not have this understanding originating within ourselves. The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (I Corinthians 2:11). The Father’s love is not material but spiritual. The Father loves us and manifests Himself to those in Christ as an expression of this love, just like He loves His Son. We are to manifest our love to the Father in our obedience; thereby, glorifying God.
Brethren, know and abide in His love. O’ the infinite unspeakable joy! And full of glory! Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellancy of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3:8a).
This was very helpful. It reassured me not only how much God loves us but how he reveals his love to us. This encouraged me to dive into His word more.
Thank You!