Jesus in the Gospel of John, Part 3: Loving the Father

It was never difficult for me to love my Dad. Since I can remember, he and my Mom loved me and provided everything that I needed. Physical food, a warm home, clothing, recreation, and education were a “given.” Most of all, love and intimate family fellowship live greatly in my memories of my father. I still love and cherish my mother, and we talk together each week.

We have seen in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series on Jesus in the Gospel of John that Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the Old Testament law so that we might have God’s promise of eternal life. We will conclude the series by seeing the great love that Jesus Christ had for his heavenly Father. We too can have this love of the Father.

The Father’s Love for His Son, Who Spoke God’s Word

John the Baptist told others of the great love that the Father had for His Son, Jesus Christ.

John 3:34-36:
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath [judgement] of God abideth on him.

John declared that:

• God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who spoke the words of God.
• God provided Jesus Christ with an unlimited gift of holy spirit, more than any man had ever received.
• Because of His love for Jesus Christ, the Father gave all into his hand.
• Those who believe on Jesus Christ will have everlasting life.

The Father’s Love for His Son, Who Laid Down His Life

God, the Creator of the universe, provided Jesus Christ with all that he needed to successfully carry out his mission to redeem mankind and bring eternal life. Like a shepherd, Jesus Christ daily cared for his flock. As the good shepherd, he even laid down his life for the sheep. God indeed put the salvation of those who would hear Jesus Christ’s voice safely in his hand. He gives unto us eternal life with the authority of his Father, Who is greater than all.

John 10:14-18,27-29:
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Jesus’ Love for His Own

Jesus Christ loved his own, those who heard his voice, unto the very end of his life. Shortly before he made the greatest sacrifice of all time, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet—showing them the utmost in service and humility. With this example of God’s love for all, Jesus Christ then gave them a “new” commandment.

John 13:1,34,35:
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Our Love for One Another

They were to love one another with the love of God. This love is a spiritual reality that comes when we are born again of God’s spirit. Romans 5:5 says “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [gift of holy spirit] which is given unto us.”

Jesus Christ prayed to the Father that He would give them this gift, which would be another comforter. While he was with them, Jesus Christ was their great comforter. He “called them alongside” to care for each one of them personally and lovingly.

But now he was about to go away. Because he was going to the Father, those who believe on him would be able to do even greater works than he had done in his earthly ministry!

John 14:12-20:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he [it] dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

After the new birth came on the day of Pentecost, these disciples knew that Jesus Christ was in his Father, that they were in Christ, and that it was “Christ in” them (Colossians 1:27).

Look at the great love the Father had in giving His only begotten Son to make this gift available. And look at the great love that Jesus Christ had for his Father to speak the Word of life to all who would receive it.

The Father and His Son’s Love for Us

While Jesus was present with his disciples, he gave them words, God’s Word. He promised to manifest himself to them if they would keep his words. The Father would love them and abide in them. After they were born again, it would be God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:19) and Christ in them (Colossians 1:27). This is the epitome and apex of love.

John 14:21-25:
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Jesus Christ manifested the love of the Father. By giving his life, he made available the new birth and the gift of holy spirit to all who believe on him. This gift of holy spirit, the comforter, within each believer brings peace with God and with others in the body of Christ. This is “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) and is unlike anything the world can give.

John 14:26-31:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost [gift of holy spirit], whom the Father will send [future, beginning on the day of Pentecost] in my name, he [it] shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

This was a time of great sadness for Jesus’ disciples. Yet, the master encouraged them to have great joy. Why? Because even though Jesus Christ’s physical body would lay dead in the tomb for three days and three nights, his loving heavenly Father, Who is even greater than His Son, was able to raise Jesus Christ from the dead! Jesus always did those things that pleased the Father, and in so doing his Father’s commandment, he showed the world the great and abiding love that he had for the Father.

Following Our Savior’s Example: Abiding in Love

We can keep Jesus Christ’s commandment and love one another. When we make Jesus Christ lord and believe that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9,10), we are saved and the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. We abide in his love. Jesus Christ hand-picked and ordained those who led the church after his death, resurrection, and ascension. Just as they were to bring forth spiritual fruit that is energized by love, so are we.

John 15:9-13,16,17:
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.

The Father’s Love for His Children

Praying shortly before his death, Jesus thanked his Father for loving him. God loved His Son and planned for man’s redemption before the foundation of the world. In God’s foreknowledge, He anticipated the birth and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, those who believe in Jesus Christ were chosen “in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). Jesus Christ wanted all to be saved and have the wonderful love of the Father that he had within.

John 17:24:
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Jesus Christ wanted those who believed on him to behold his glory. Romans 6:4 says that “as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” As born-again sons of God, we can see God’s “mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19,20).

The Father and His Son’s Love Sets Us Apart

When we believe the truth of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, we are sanctified, set apart, by the gift of holy spirit within us. We acquire the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. God sent the comforter, the gift of holy spirit, and we have everlasting comfort and hope through grace, God’s loving favor to us in Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:13-17:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

God and His Son Jesus Christ so loved that they gave. Now we are the sons of God and look forward to the return of our risen lord.

I John 3:1:
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Responding to the Father’s Love with Our Freedom in Christ

What is our response to this unfathomable love? To serve one another with God’s abounding love.

Galatians 5:13,14:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Now we can fulfill the law and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We are loveable, because we have the gift of holy spirit within and are holy and without blame in our Father’s sight. We can love ourselves, and we can love others with the love of Christ. Like our lord and savior, we keep our Father’s command to love one another with His love!

I John 4:11:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Jesus in the Gospel of John

The gospel of John gives us an “overhead” view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Jesus Christ came to bring eternal life, to fulfill the Old Testament law, and to show forth the Father’s love. Because of his loving accomplishments for us, we can have God’s perfect love and boldness each day of our lives. Why? Because “as he is,” so are we in this world.

I John 4:17:
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.