The Father’s Love for the Son

“And behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’”  Matthew 3:17

In this remarkable verse, God the Father speaking form heaven itself, introduces His beloved Son to the world. This is the first New Testament reference to “love,” just as the Father’s love for the Son was the first love that ever existed. As Christ prayed in the upper room, “for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). There are many other references to the Father’s love for the Son including two to the voice at His baptism (Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22) and two more in the upper room prayer (John 17:23, 26).

The extent of the Father’s love for His blessed Son was all-encompassing. “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand” (John 3:35). Furthermore, “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing” (John 5:20).

God also spoke of His “beloved Son” on the Mount of Transfiguration, as cited four times (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17). Thus there are seven references in the New Testament to the Father’s heavenly testimony to His beloved Son. Similarly there are seven passages where the Son Himself testifies of that Fatherly love. In addition to the six cited, Christ said, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you” (John 15:9).

Seven testimonies from the Father and seven from the Son! Surely the Father loved the Son with a perfect love. And yet – “In this is love...that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Such love for unworthy sinners merits nothing less than total thanksgiving from us.