The Father Gave Us His Son

Throughout this devotional series, we’ve been reflecting on the Christmas story from a variety of perspectives. One you may never have considered is the perspective of God the Father. How did the Christmas story play out from the Father’s vantage point? 

Of course, our finite minds can hardly even begin to comprehend how God looks at things. Scripture does, however, give us some indications of how God the Father viewed the Incarnation of His Son. I believe seeing this truth in a new way will really deepen your joy in celebrating Christmas today.

God the Father took great delight in His Son’s actions. At the baptism of Jesus, the Father’s voice was heard coming from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Father’s good pleasure in the Son applied not only to His baptism, but to all of Christ’s actions. When God the Father looked at the work of God the Son, He was only ever “well-pleased” with it. Jesus told us plainly: “the Father loves the Son” (John 5:20). At the heart of God’s essence, in the very depths of God, is the love shared within the Trinity. At Christmas, when the Son of God submitted Himself to being an embryo, growing in Mary’s womb, and finally entering the world as a newborn—we can know that all of it pleased God the Father. 

Consider also what the Gospel of John tells us about God the Father’s intentions for His Son: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16–17). Notice the two words Scripture uses here to describe the Father’s actions: giving and sending. The Father “gave” His Son to the world as a gift of His grace. The Father also “sent” the Son to undertake the next stage in God’s redemptive plan. The Father gave and sent the Son, so that we could come to salvation, be saved from perishing, and enjoy eternal life with Him. God the Father could see all of this taking shape on Christmas Day now over 2,000 years ago.

For us, celebrating Christmas also involves giving and sending. In a small way, this imitates the ultimate gift sent from God, His own Son. God sent His Son out of love for the world. If we know Christ and place our faith in God’s free gift of forgiveness, then the love that the Father and the Son share can also invade our hearts and transform our lives. God’s gift can fix things that couldn’t be repaired. It can bring together people who couldn’t be reconciled. 

That is the good news of what God the Father saw when He sent us His Son at Christmas!

Questions for Thought

1. Have you ever thought about the fact that God the Father loves God the Son? How does this deepen how you think about the Trinity? 
2. Can you think of any other passages in the Gospels that help us understand the relationship between the Father and the Son? (Hint: Read John 17!)

Daily Challenge

Pray about your relationships with others. Then, reach out today to a family member or friend you haven’t spoken with in a while to tell them you love them and want God’s best for them.