“These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” John 16:25-27 (KJV)
As parents, we know how easy it is to love those who love our children. In today’s Scripture passage, Jesus assures the Twelve that the Heavenly Father loves them because they have loved His Son, and believed that Jesus is the Son of God.
Up until this time, Jesus has basically been teaching them through wisdom literature or proverbs. Such teaching will always separate the wheat from the chaff. Those who truly are seeking God will struggle with the proverbial truths, but those who just want a quick fix will complain, make excuses, and finally go away. We might also consider that Jesus has been feeding the Twelve the sincere milk of the Word, but now they need meat . . . something that will sustain their faith.
Soon they will not have Jesus around to pray the Father on their behalf. When that day arrives, they must talk to the Father personally. They will not need a liaison, but will be able to talk to Him directly. And they must not worry about His response to them because the Father loves them. His love for them is motivated by the very fact of their love for and faith in Jesus as the Son of God.
We can talk directly to God today with the firm assurance that He will hear and respond as our loving Father. Because we love His Son, He loves us. Because we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, the Father loves us. What love the Father has for us! On the other hand, if we reject and hate His Son . . . Everything depends upon our response to God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary. Grant that we may live in the calm assurance of your love. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the Father’s love,