No one knows God’s care as a Father more deeply and personally than His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The Gospels detail various characteristics of the Father-Son relationship that God and Jesus Christ enjoyed while Christ was on earth. It was a very familiar relationship, one that was comfortable, dependent, and affectionate—a relationship of open and free communication. Let’s go to the Word and learn some aspects of the tender relationship Jesus Christ had with his Father, God.
God’s Word shows us that Jesus Christ knew God was his Father. Jesus Christ referred to God as “my Father” (John 5:17) and “my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:35). Jesus Christ also used the very intimate expression “Abba, Father” in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the hours before his arrest and crucifixion.
Mark 14:36:
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
By talking to God, saying, “Abba, Father,” Jesus Christ showed an intimacy that had not been conveyed before in approaching God. It revealed a sense of familiarity that had never been used by the ancient Judeans in their religious prayers.
The Greek word abba comes from aba, an Aramaic form of address that was originally used by babies learning to talk. In modern English, a rough equivalent might be “Daddy.” A son may say “Father” simply based on a birth relationship, but aba shows the most intimate fellowship available between father and son. God and Jesus Christ had a close Father-Son relationship.
Another aspect of their relationship that we see from God’s Word is that Jesus Christ and God were on talking terms with each other. Jesus Christ spoke to God, going to Him in prayer.
Mark 1:35:
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Jesus Christ knew God and could therefore make Him known to others. Jesus Christ taught the things that God gave him to speak, including that he himself was the way to God, his Father. Through Jesus Christ, others can access God and have a relationship with Him too.
John 14:6,7:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
God’s Word not only shows Jesus Christ’s loving relationship with God, but how he trusted God to provide for him as a Father. There is a record in Mark that illustrates Jesus Christ’s reliance on God.
Mark 6:38-44:
He saith unto them [his disciples], How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
And they did all eat, and were filled.
And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Here we see God’s care for Jesus Christ as a Father. God is the Provider. Feeding five thousand or feeding one—it makes no difference to God. God provides; He meets the need. Jesus Christ knew this, and he knew the people needed to eat. So he simply went to the Source of supply and fed the people. Jesus Christ was confident that his Father would meet the need.
The Word shows us many aspects of Jesus Christ’s relationship with God, his heavenly Father. While on earth, Jesus Christ knew God was his Father, and he displayed the intimacy of their relationship by calling Him “Abba.” Jesus Christ prayed to God and made Him known to others. Jesus Christ trusted God to provide, and He did so in remarkable ways, as we saw with the feeding of the multitude. What personal love and care God had for His Son!
It is by Jesus Christ that we as born-again believers have access to God as our heavenly Father. Let’s follow in the steps of Jesus Christ and enjoy our relationship with our Father, God.