The relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son is one of the central truths revealed throughout the New Testament. Scripture presents the Father and Son as personally distinct, yet inseparably united in love, purpose, work, and glory.
Jesus did not come independently of the Father. He repeatedly spoke of being sent by the Father, doing the Father's will, speaking the Father's words, and revealing the Father to mankind.
The Father Loves the Son
Jesus said:
“For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth...” — John 5:20, KJV
The relationship begins with love.
John 3:35 repeats this truth:
“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” — John 3:35, KJV
The Father does not reluctantly give authority to the Son. Scripture connects the Father's love for the Son with what He entrusts to Him.
The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father.
Jesus declared:
“But that the world may know that I love the Father...” — John 14:31, KJV
There is therefore mutual love within this relationship.
The Father Sent the Son
One of John's repeated descriptions of Jesus is that the Father sent Him.
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” — 1 John 4:14, KJV
Jesus did not appoint Himself to His earthly mission.
He came according to the Father's purpose.
This does not mean the Son was unwilling. Father and Son were united in the work of redemption.
Jesus said:
“I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” — John 6:38, KJV
The Son willingly carried out the Father's will.
The Son Reveals the Father
Jesus also came to make the Father known.
“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father...” — John 14:9, KJV
Jesus was not saying that He is the same person as the Father, because throughout the same Gospel He speaks to the Father and speaks of the Father.
Rather, Jesus perfectly reveals the Father's character.
To know Christ is to encounter the clearest revelation of what the Father is like.
The Son reveals:
His holiness.
His righteousness.
His compassion.
His truth.
His mercy.
His love.
“The Son Can Do Nothing of Himself”
Jesus said:
“The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do...” — John 5:19, KJV
This should not be understood as though Jesus were describing moral weakness or inability.
The remainder of the verse explains His meaning:
“for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
Jesus is describing complete harmony between Father and Son.
The Son does not act independently or contrary to the Father.
The Father and Son work in perfect agreement.
The Father Entrusts Authority to the Son
Jesus continues:
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” — John 5:22, KJV
The Father gives the Son authority to execute judgment.
John 3:35 similarly says:
“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”
The relationship therefore includes both love and authority.
The Son receives from the Father and faithfully carries out the Father's purpose.
The Son Is to Be Honored
John 5:23 makes an extraordinary statement:
“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.”
Scripture does not present honoring Jesus as competition with honoring the Father.
Jesus continues:
“He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”
Therefore, we cannot claim to honor the Father while rejecting His Son.
The Father Himself has determined that the Son should be honored.
The Father Glorifies the Son, and the Son Glorifies the Father
Jesus prayed:
“Father, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” — John 17:1, KJV
Notice the relationship:
The Father glorifies the Son.
The Son glorifies the Father.
Jesus' ministry continually directed attention toward the Father who sent Him, while the Father testified concerning and glorified His Son.
There is no rivalry between them.
There is perfect unity of purpose.
The Son Shared Glory With the Father
Jesus prayed:
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” — John 17:5, KJV
This takes the Father-Son relationship beyond Bethlehem.
Jesus speaks of glory that He had with the Father before the world was.
The Son's relationship with the Father therefore did not begin with His birth in Bethlehem.
John begins his Gospel with the same truth:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1, KJV
The Word was with God, showing distinction, while also being described as God.
Jesus Brings Us to the Father
The relationship between Father and Son also affects our relationship with God.
Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” — John 14:6, KJV
The Son does not draw us away from the Father.
The Son brings us to the Father.
Through Christ we come to know God not merely as Creator, but as Father.
Personal Application
The relationship between the Father and Son teaches us that Christianity is not simply about believing that God exists.
We are called to know the Father through His Son.
If we want to understand the Father's character, we should look carefully at Jesus.
If we want to understand the Father's will, we should listen to Jesus.
If we desire fellowship with the Father, we must receive the Son whom He sent.
Jesus said:
“I and my Father are one.” — John 10:30, KJV
Father and Son are not presented as rivals competing for glory. Scripture reveals a relationship characterized by love, unity, obedience, honor, shared purpose, and glory.
Key Truth
The Father loves the Son and sent Him into the world. The Son loves the Father, reveals Him, accomplishes His will, and glorifies Him. The Father gives authority to the Son and commands that the Son be honored. Through the Son, we are brought into fellowship with the Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment