“For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself is doing. And greater works than these will He show Him, so that you may marvel.”
(John 5:20)
One of the most beautiful truths of all time is the relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Though Jesus is equal with God in terms of His divinity (Phil. 2:16), He is God’s only Begotten Son in terms of their relationship. And this singularly unique relationship is defined by divinely infinite, pure love. “For the Father loves the Son,” (John 5:20) and “this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” (Matt. 3:17).
Because the Father loves His Son with perfect love, and the Son responds in perfect obedience, God shares every aspect of who He is and what He is doing with Christ – “… and shows Him all that He Himself is doing,” (John 5:20).
“Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world,” (Acts 15:18), and “He works all things according to the counsel of His own will,” (Eph. 1:11). God has made known to Christ all His mysteries concerning election and salvation. All those whom God has appointed to life Christ knows, for He is acquainted perfectly with all aspects of God’s divine plan of redemption.
In truth, all the works of God are known to Him. “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He does,” (John 5:19-20). Christ knew His appointed time for working miracles, “… My hour is not yet come,” (John 2:4) as well as the time of His own sufferings (Luke 22:53) all at the Father’s appointment.
Not even the angels know or understand God’s full plan. The angel referenced in Revelation 22:8-9 could not reveal to John any more than was first revealed to him. Only Christ is acquainted with everything God says and does, as He is the Living Word of God.
God never manifested Himself fully to anyone but Christ. Referencing the ancient saints that preached before the flood, “…the Spirit of Christ gave them their prophecy,” (1 Peter 3:18-20). It was Christ that gave the law, “The Law was ordained by Moses in the hand of a Mediator [Christ],” (Gal. 3:19). The prophets had their revelation by Christ. “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow,” (1 Peter 1:11).
RC Sproul said, “This is why knowing ‘Him who is true’– the Father – is inseparable from being in union with His true Son (1 John 5:20). To know the true God and to have eternal life is to be in the Son. Only those who are disciples of the Christ have everlasting salvation.”
The conversion of all souls and dispensations of all graces are accomplished through Jesus Christ. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself; He has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ,” (2 Cor. 5:18-19); and Christ says, “You will not come to me that you might have life,” (John 5:40) and “no man can come to me except the Father which has sent Me draw him,” (John 6:44). It is God the Father who has been offended and whose judgment of sin must be satisfied. But all this is accomplished in Christ.
Further, God committed the administration of all things to His Son. God does nothing without Him and accomplishes all things by Him. And at the last day, when God shall pronounce final judgment on men and angels, it shall be by Christ (Phil. 2:10-11) as Christ alone shall receive glory and praise. “Glory be to Him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13).
- Lord, You are the Sovereign God, deserving of all honor and worship, and Your Son is Your appointed Mediator, equally deserving of all honor and worship because You, Lord Jesus, are God. May I be able to say, “I do honor the Son, even as I honor the Father,” (John 5:23).
- Lord, the highest honor that Christ has as Mediator is in this, that You have made Him “the head of the corner,” (Psalm 118:22), or “the chief cornerstone,” (Eph. 2:20) of my salvation. He is the foundation of my faith.
- Lord Jesus, You are glorious for You came to save Your people. As the Father is the fountain of all glory, so the Son and the Spirit have all glory. As such, You are worthy of my adoration.
- Even the angels are summoned to worship You. “When He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him,’” (Heb. 1:6). I answer the call to worship You, both privately in my quiet time and publicly in the congregation of my fellow saints.
Further References for John 5:20
John 3:35; Matt. 3:17; John 14:12; Matt. 17:5; Luke 10:22; 2 Peter 1:17
