In John 17, we have the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. This could also be called the real "Lord's Prayer." The entire chapter is incredibly revealing of God's heart for His people, but one verse in particular almost knocks me off my feet every time I read it. It is verse 26. Listen carefully:
"I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Whatever else may and probably should be said from this verse, one thing is unmistakably clear. . . Jesus prays that His people feel loved by Our Father. Not only does He pray that we feel loved, but He prayed that we would experience the same love that He experiences from His Father. Wow!
(At this point, I have to disagree with several men who I hold in high regard (i.e., John Piper, Jack Deere, etc). These men see this verse, instead, as Jesus praying that Believer would have the same love and passion for Jesus that the Father has for Jesus. Though, this definitely is not unbiblical, I am not sure that's what this verse is promising. Jesus is talking about His work of revealing the Father and it seems more natural that He would then pray that Believers would come to know the fullness of the Father's love rather than abruptly change His orientation and request that Believers be given the same passion for Jesus as the Father has.)
If we want to understand something of this, we have to see how God the Father loves His Son.
*Jesus testifies in John 17:24 "you [the Father] loved me [Jesus] before the foundation of the world." God's love for His Son is eternal! If you ever wondered what God was doing prior to creation, it is this- He was loving His Son! He was delighting in His Son.
*Two times, during Our Lord's earthly ministry, His Father broke through the Heavens to declare His love for and delight in His Son. The first was on the Mount of transfiguration and the second at Jesus' baptism. Father God audibly spoke: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. . . ." If there was ever any doubt in anybody's mind who was present- GONE! "This is by BELOVED Son!" Father God wanted people to know how much He loves His Son and how sacrificially He was giving of Himself so that we sinners could come to know His love rather than His judgment! God didn't send us His step-child! He didn't send us the son He wish he never had. He sent us His BELOVED Son! His much loved son.
*John's Gospel records several times where Jesus boasts about being loved by the Father (3:35; 5:20). Father God loves Jesus so much and so expressively that Jesus can boast with certainty that His Father loves Him. There is no question in Jesus' mind. His Father's love is undeniable.
*Colossians 1:13 says "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, . . . ." The phrase "beloved Son" is also translated "Son of His love." The Father's love for Jesus is so compelling to the Apostle Paul that whenever he speaks of the Father's relationship to His Son, he must talk about LOVE! Sure, there is trust and respect and glory and joy and . . . . But love must be mentioned!
Are you as convinced of the Father's love for you as Jesus is? When was the last time you openly boasted about being loved by God? Do you know that Father God loved you before He even created the world? Do you know that when the Father thinks of you, He smiles so huge that the sun rises! Listen carefully, you can hear Him singing over you in love in songs of rejoicing! Do you know that God is not embarrassed by you? He broke through the Heavens and declared His love for Jesus. If you will listen carefully, you can hear the Holy Spirit shouting out the declarations of love for you from the Father! He knows your face. He calls you by name. And He loves you!
As if that weren't enough, Jesus then commits Himself to being "in" us as Believers. In other words, He wants us to know the fullness of the Father's love and He Himself wants to be near us which He is by His Spirit, Who also pours Father God's love into 0ur hearts. Do you get the feeling that Jesus just isn't satisfied with us knowing about the Father's love?! He wants us to experience the Father's love! He wants us WOWed at His love. He wants us so convinced of the Father's love that we can face the worst human experience without questioning the love of the Father. So take time to simply ask Father God what He thinks of you. Then, listen! Take time and listen. Don't be surprised when he starts telling you. He may even show you how he created a certain flower which you love just to show you that He loves you.
God bless you, Beloved of the Father!
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